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The Passion: 12th Annual Surf Art Exhibition Axis Gallery The Parks Arts & Functions complex until 17 Feb  I
had always been fond of surf culture, even though I do not participate
in it myself. However, like much sport and its followers, support
can be harnessed in various ways, such as from the couch, or with
surfing, from the sandy shores and without getting one's toes wet.
And though I have never worn a wetsuit I am often in awe of those
who can change in and out of a piece of rubber behind a mere towel
- or more simply, behind the back of a panel wagon. Now I know I am
not alone on this: highly successful artist Tracey Moffatt dedicated
her 1997 video art piece Heaven to this particular topic. Moffatt
attempted to capture the fleshy parts of Sydney's Bondi Beach surfers
in an appeal to the voyeuristic tendencies in all of us. However, in a change of environment on a recent trip to Hawaii, I became a little caught up in the tourism and its associated surf culture. I made an executive decision that resulted in the hiring of a twelve-foot Malibu surfboard. Mildly uneasy as I paddled out into the surf, I was pleasantly surprised as I learned - in a very novice way - how to catch a wave. In the need to recreate and develop that experience each day for the next week, I discovered that yes, surfing can become an activity of obsession. Shortly after my return to Adelaide, I found myself reminiscing about my surfing encounter and it was with this in mind that I felt encouraged to visit Axis Gallery at The Parks Arts & Functions complex at Angle Park to view 'The Passion - 12th Annual Surf Art Exhibition'. A short way north-west of the city, and a bit of a trek from South Australia's surf beaches, Axis Gallery is celebrating the work of local SA artists who are based at Port Noarlunga and use surf culture as major inspiration for their art. As a community event, 'The Passion...' has been staged in conjunction with The Arts Centre Port Noarlunga. Pitched as the twelfth of its kind, 'The Passion...' provides an opportunity for local artists to express their talents and share their enthusiasm for the theme, with this year's exhibition curated by artist Leah Grace. Axis Gallery provides the venue in which such views can be accessed by us town folk. Drawing from one thread, 'The Passion...' is comprised of an eclectic range of mediums and styles. From paintings and photographs, to ceramics and textiles, the works convey 'surf' as having multifaceted meaning, forming various interpretations that are elucidated through art. From traditional styles of painting to illustration and abstraction, 'The Passion...' incorporates works from around twenty different artists. One gains the impression that many of the artists are experienced in communicating the subject matter of surf, while in some works, one cannot help but notice an air of amateurism. Nevertheless, this does not detract from the general concept of the exhibition that ultimately promotes surf culture as a community strength. There are several highlights including Untitled by Andrea Jean, a dark, triptych of the ocean that impresses a sense of grandeur as one seemingly looks down at the water from a cliff's edge.  John
Davis' semi-photorealist Off The Coast conveys the colour of surfing,
as created with a spectrum of boards. Barabary O'Brien's illustration Middleton Mondays No 1 "Everyone's gone home!" evokes a sense of local township knowledge regarding the comings and goings of beachgoers. Shell Beach by Mark Pioveson captures in a photographic close-up, the classic surf tube. Allan Kyd's King's Head, done in an automatic inspired style, is a good example of abstracting the subject matter. There is no denying that the exhibited works emit a romantic vision of the surf and what this term embodies. The exhibition thus becomes a hearty affirmation of coastal living. Fortunately, the curator has provided a good balance between both the literal and the loose interpretations of 'surf'. I was concerned that the show would be dominated by wave riding, or alternatively pretty, coastal sunsets. However, in this case there is an even degree of figurative, scenic and conceptual representation.  |
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