Cut Back at the Arts Centre Gold Coast

By Benjamen Judd

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Surfing has become as iconic a feature of the Gold Coast lifestyle as, well, having breakfast with us at Bazaar. The latest exhibition at the Arts Centre Gold Coast, Cut Back, captures the raw elemental beauty of the sport.

Showing at the Arts Centre Gold Coast until March 22, Cat Back is an exhibition about surfing by surfers. It looks at not only the culture that has sprung up around the sport (and those who participate in it) but how it has influenced broader segments of the community, such as film, music and fashion.

Andrew Kidman documents his surfing peers and in doing so taps into Australian masculine identity and the role of women in sport. Chris Bennie and Shaun Gladwell draw upon ancient philosophy and mythology for their inspiration. Ben Rak channels cultural rituals, drawing parallels between surfing, dancing and his Jewish faith. Both William Mackinnon and Joel Rea reflect on the psychological aspect of Mother Nature. Illustrator Nanda Ormond records many facets of surfing in pen and with wit.

A wonderful, and insightful, look into what is not just a sport but a lifestyle for those of us blessed enough to live on the beach, we highly recommend anyone staying with us to go and take a peek at Cut Back at the Arts Centre Gold Coast.

Cut Back is now showing at the Arts Centre Gold Coast until March 22.