Words of wisdom from Inara put me straight today. Focus, first of all, on what kind of stuff you think visitors are gonna want to see when they walk into the exhibition space, was her advice. So that’s what I’ve been working on – putting aside the cultural analysis, character development, technical histories and surfer biographies for the moment to think about the basic 3D install and the kind of ‘must-see’ objects that both surfers and non-surfers would anticipate in the show.
Well, this is where I’m at so far… the show will contain a core installation of beautiful, resonant boards (treasures, icons and design breakthroughs, favouring desirable, classy examples over gnarly, misshapen clunkers), high impact moving footage and interviews, breathtaking photography, nostalgic beachwares and surfing accessories, clothing, artefacts, magazines, etc and a large format interactive map of the Sydney coastline. Oh yeah…and an EH station wagon out front.