The Accidental Masterpiece: Finding Yourself When You're Lost

This seventh chapter of Michael Kimmelman's The Accidental Masterpiece discussed the quality and caliber of art that is created under extenuating circumstances. Though it explains multiple occasions when the artist's situation inspired their art, or even turned the individuals into artists, the primary focus of the chapter is on Frank Hurley, a photographer who participated in two nightmarish Antarctic expeditions, the second of which had a happy ending. As a history buff, I was surprised that I'd never heard of Shackleton's 1914 expedition. I knew all about Mawson's ill-fated expedition, not to mention the Norwegian Roald Amundsen's successful voyage, before reading this chapter. But Ernest Shackleton was not a name I'd ever heard, to my knowledge. Both of Hurley's expeditions are harrowing stories of survival in the face of extreme hardship. It's surprising Hollywood hasn't taken his story up yet - I'd watch that movie. With a decent cast and a solid director, it'd be better than most films coming out of LA these days...but I digress. The point is, Frank Hurley was a certifiable lunatic. And I think he and I would have gotten along famously. The man was unbelievably passionate about what he did, and his thirst for adventure was insatiable. Kimmelman was right - Hurley probably enjoyed every minute he spent stranded in Antarctica. I doubt he'd have cared if he perished on any of his voyages, so long as his photographs survived him. There's something undeniably admirable about that degree of devotion.