Theodor Andersson
From South Georgia Museum
We were very pleased to have some special visitors in January – The Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Alan Huckle, came to South Georgia with his wife Helen. Alan was invited to come along and open a new exhibition on the photography of Theodor Andersson which includes the camera Andersson used to create his atmospheric prints of life in Grytviken. This exhibition was made possible thanks to Bo Svalby, the Grandson of Theodor Andersson, who allowed the Museum to display some of his Grandfather’s photographs of whaling and the community at Grytviken taken from 1923-1932.
Andersson was employed at Grytviken as a carpenter, to supplement his income he also took in washing, but he also found he had a passion and talent for photography as is evident in the prints that have been made from his original plates. The camera he used is on display in the lobby of the Museum along with the case he used to carry it up the mountains and around the local area. The camera has been loaned to the Museum for the 2010 season and the case will become a permanent exhibit at the museum. Theodor Andersson's photographs can be seen in the book produced by Stig Tore Lunde, Grytviken Seen Through a Camera Lens, available in our museum shop.
At the same time, the Commissioner was happy to pass on a gift to the island from the South Georgia Association. Theis Matzen, a wintering yacht visitor to the island, had painstakingly created three beautiful benches for the use of visitors who want to sit back and soak up the atmosphere of Grytviken. The benches were built in our own workshop and are sturdy enough to withstand the worst of our weather and I'm sure we'll all enjoy them on our tea breaks as well!
Ruth Fraser