The Inspirations Behind 'No Man’s Land'

What happens when the mind is left alone with nothing but ice and silence?

When I created No Man’s Land, I wanted to explore the thin line between reality and paranoia - how solitude, strange surroundings, and fragmented memories can shape what we believe to be true. But this story isn’t just fiction; it’s deeply rooted in my artistic research, Antarctic Amazons, and the way we interpret (or misinterpret) history.

Antarctic Amazons: A Visual Research Project

This story builds upon Antarctic Amazons, an artistic research project I developed during art academy. In this project, I explored theories about Antarctica once having a civilization and how archeological finds can be misleading. Even with what we consider “hard evidence,” the interpretation of a person - or an entire society - is shaped by the perspective of the one studying it. For example, "warrior" women found in ancient graves were often assumed to be male simply because of their weaponry.

The blurred line between fact and speculation fascinated me. What if a lonely researcher, stranded in the Antarctic, stumbled upon something that challenged their perception of reality? What if their own isolation and subconscious fears dictated the story they believed? As their mind unraveled, so too did the illustrations - becoming increasingly frantic, reflecting their descent into paranoia.

The Power of Isolation and Moon Madness

Many real-life explorers have reported strange experiences in extreme isolation. The Third Man Factor, for example, describes how some feel an unseen presence guiding them in times of distress. Others experience auditory hallucinations - whispers in the wind, phantom footsteps in the snow. I wanted to capture that sense of doubt and eerie uncertainty in No Man’s Land.

Another crucial element is the moon. Inspired by the concept of moon madness, I used it as a central motif throughout the story. As the protagonist’s grip on reality weakens, the moon becomes an almost sentient force, guiding them and taunting them.

Failed Polar Expeditions: The Fate of HMS Terror and Erebus

Another major inspiration for No Man’s Land was the disastrous fate of the HMS Terror and Erebus, ships from the ill-fated Franklin Expedition. Trapped in Arctic ice in the 1840s, the crew suffered from starvation, scurvy, and, as more recent research suggests, lead poisoning from faulty canned food. This poisoning can cause severe neurological symptoms, including paranoia and hallucinations. As a result, some of the men may have experienced the same kind of psychological unraveling that my protagonist undergoes in the story.

Being ice-bound in an inhospitable landscape, cut off from help, and slipping into madness - these historical events deeply informed my exploration of isolation and delusion in No Man’s Land.

Mysterious Legends of Antarctica

Although Antarctica is largely uninhabited, myths persist about lost civilizations beneath the ice. Conspiracy theories suggest ancient ruins buried under glaciers, while some researchers speculate that Polynesians may have once set foot there. My story plays with this idea - what if an Arctic civilization had existed? And what if our protagonist’s perception of reality twisted their findings into something entirely different?

Animals Mistaken for Monsters

The creatures in my story are, in fact, a mix of different penguin species. But I wanted the reader to experience them through the protagonist’s skewed perspective: shadowy figures, braying calls that sound unnervingly human, objects left as “gifts” that may or may not be meaningful. The mind, when isolated, is capable of turning the ordinary into something terrifying.

The Uncertainty of Interpretation

Much like how archeologists piece together history from incomplete artifacts, the protagonist of No Man’s Land pieces together a narrative from scattered footprints, distant figures, and cryptic sounds. But is the story they construct the truth? Or just the one they need to believe?

The moon, ever-present, becomes their only measure of time - a silent observer to their unraveling mind. The deeper they descend into their paranoia, the more their understanding of reality shifts. Perhaps they’ve discovered something profound, or perhaps they’ve simply lost themselves in the void of the ice.

Visual References & Further Inspiration

If you're curious to see the visual references that helped shape this project, you can explore my collection of source images on Pinterest.

What do you think really happened in No Man’s Land?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Sources

Traveling to Antarctica

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/25/world/ancient-landscape-antarctica-climate-scn/index.html

https://www.britannica.com/event/Franklin-expedition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_hallucination

https://www.gq.com/story/insane-in-antarctica-excerpt

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/dreaming-polar-lands-with-the-haunted-and-damned

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17655924/

https://www.lastwordonnothing.com/2020/04/27/antarctic-stare/

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/polar-explorers-mental-health-expeditions/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/mar/05/the-strange-world-of-felt-presences

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-darkness

https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/thinking-and-awareness/2024/presence-hallucination-research-shows-how-our-brains-conjure-ghostly-illusions-103024?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganzfeld_effect

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/felicity-aston-antarctic-explorer/index.html

https://www.reuters.com/article/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/polar-madness-grips-many-people-working-at-poles-idUSN24226502/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_T3_syndrome

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabin_fever

https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvqhsrj

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/australian-geographic-adventure/adventure/2012/09/an-adventurers-guardian-angel-the-third-man/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_man_factor

https://mymodernmet.com/antarctica-conservators-discover-100-year-old-negatives/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Valley

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMurdo_Dry_Valleys

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin%27s_lost_expedition

https://www.history.com/news/7-unusual-myths-and-theories-about-the-moon?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10363673/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1316181/

https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/does-the-full-moon-make-people-mad

https://www.historytoday.com/archive/canned-food-sealed-icemens-fate

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3909981/#:~:text=The%20most%20severe%20neurological%20effect,hallucinations%20within%20weeks%20of%20exposure.

Subjectivity in Archeology

Damien Hirst - Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/woman-warrior-hungary-sex-gender-roles-archaeology

https://kunst-en-cultuur.infonu.nl/geschiedenis/20178-amazonen-de-vrouwelijke-krijgers.html

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd0310

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/viking-warrior-woman-archaeology-spd

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-journal-of-archaeology/article/woman-with-a-sword-weapon-grave-at-suontaka-vesitorninmaki-finland/33A89DB1D7E4900F017833D87C997D3D#article

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X23002742?via%3Dihub

Amazonian Civilization

https://www.history.co.uk/articles/debunking-the-biggest-antarctica-conspiracy-theories

https://www.livescience.com/indigenous-people-discovered-antarctica.html

https://en.futuroprossimo.it/2024/01/civilta-antiche-in-antartide-verita-o-fantasia-la-scienza-ha-il-responso/

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/did-an-ancient-civilization-ever-live-in-antarctica

https://www.coolantarctica.com/Community/antarctic-mysteries-map.php

https://longnow.org/ideas/the-truth-about-antarctica/

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beschaving

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons

https://archeologieonline.nl/artikelen/archeologe-amazones-hebben-echt-bestaan

https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CC%5CScythianart.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythians

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarmatians

https://historiek.net/de-sabijnse-maagdenroof/79789/

https://www.volkskrant.nl/wetenschap/voorplanting-zonder-seks-komt-vaker-voor-dan-wordt-aangenomen~bf8b5459/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maagdelijke_voortplanting#:~:text=Maagdelijke%20voortplanting%20of%20parthenogenese%2C%20een,spontaan%20eitjes%20of%20baren%20jongen.

https://www.nationalgeographic.nl/dieren/2017/11/deze-vrouwtjeshagedis-kan-zich-zonder-partner-voortplanten

Behind the Scenes: Crafting This Year's Christmas Card

Recently, I’ve been craving the tactile satisfaction of making something by hand. To challenge myself, I decided to create a set of unique Christmas cards.

The rules I set for myself were simple:

1. The cards had to be finished by early December.

2. I could only use materials I already had at home.

3. No printing allowed!

   
   

   Inspiration and Concept

   
   

   The idea was sparked by a visit to the Teylers Museum, where I marveled at a Victorian paper peepshow. I loved the layered effect that drew the eye into a tiny world. Translating this into a card format, I envisioned a design that could be cut from a single sheet of paper—minimizing the need for glue and keeping the process efficient.
   

   Given the minimum postcard dimensions (9 x 14 cm) and the size of A4 paper, I opted for a three-layer design, with 1 cm folds creating depth between the layers.

From Concept to Creation

In the Netherlands, many homes have no curtains, which offers a fascinating glimpse into living rooms, especially during the festive season. These "windows into Christmas" inspired my composition: a simple scene with a glowing Christmas tree at its heart.

Before committing to the final design, I started with a quick mock-up. I folded a piece of paper and roughly cut out my envisioned layers. This prototype helped me decide on the perfect placement for the Christmas tree - center stage!

Next, I refined my design in Illustrator and prepared it for my trusty cutting machine, the Silhouette Cameo.

Bringing the Cards to Life

For the next few days, my studio buzzed with the hum of the cutter, while I stayed cozy by the heater. I hand-painted Christmas trees, carefully folded the layers, and added glue where needed - finally feeling that burst of creative productivity.

In the end, I made 30 unique cards, each hand-numbered. To complete the set, I paired them with hand-stamped envelopes, a custom postal stamp, and a blank card for personal messages.

A Little Piece of Christmas

I hope you enjoyed this peek behind the scenes! Crafting these cards was a joy, and I’m thrilled to share them with you.

If you’d like to bring this "peepshow" artwork into your home or send it to someone special, you can find them in my Etsy store.

Sunflowers

"I have never found sunflowers to be particularly beautiful flowers. I dislike the color yellow, they stink, and they are just not very practical. They cannot be combined in a bouquet, so they always end up in a bundle. And that armful needs to be in a huge vase; not very subtle."

Ten years ago, my friend suddenly passed away.

In the aftermath, I found myself reflecting deeply on our recently rekindled friendship, clinging to memories of her, and questioning my right to mourn.

To process my feelings, I created an illustrated short story during my time at art academy. Recently, I felt a strong urge to revisit and recreate these images as a tribute to my friend.

She took off her shoes and ran through the surf.

I had always disliked the beach, but then again,

I had never walked on it with her before.

"Was she a good friend?" I had never considered that I might not have the right to be sad.

We cycled together to the orchestra. She with a cello, and I with a violin on my back. I had bought a brooch and attached it to the case. We had a discussion about whether the pin was supposed to represent a cello or a violin. I thought it was a violin, but as usual, she convinced me with strong arguments that she was right. The instrument didn't have a chin rest and did have a strange piece at the bottom.

I am grateful that I didn’t have internet in the days that followed. When I returned to the Netherlands, it felt as though my grief had been taken away from me. While I was still struggling to come to terms with it, the rest of the country had already inscribed July 17, 2014, into the history books.

To me, she was just away on vacation. Little by little, her death began to feel real. Yet, in my heart, she remains as though she is still here.