Phantoms of the Clark Expedition: an installation by Mark Dion

Abstract

The installation reflects on the history of exploration and on an expedition to North China that Sterling Clark undertook in 1908. It consists of a series of dioramas and sculptures representing objects and specimens that would have been used or collected during expeditions that occurred in that period. The installation is part of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute's commemoration of the centennial of the 1912 publication of "Through Shên-kan : The Account of the Clark Expedition in North China, 19089," written by Sterling Clark and naturalist Arthur de Carle Sowerby. "Through Shên-kan" is the account of a 1908-09 expedition to the Shensi and Kansu provinces of northern China. The expedition was funded by Robert Sterling Clark; Clark was joined by the naturalist and writer, Arthur de Carle Sowerby, with whom he co-wrote the book. Published in 1912, the book recounts their journey, along with observations on geography, zoology, astronomy, geology, meteorology, and culture.