Mambo Tapestry of Surfing
Artist
Gerry Wedd
Publisher
Mambo Graphics Pty Ltd
Date1995
Object number00030709
NamePoster
MediumColour lithograph on paper
DimensionsOverall: 990 x 690 mm, 0.18 kg
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Mambo Graphics Pty Ltd
DescriptionSurfer and artist Gerry Wedd created a series of works titled ‘Mambo Tapestry' in 1995 as a contributing artist with Mambo Graphics. The series formed an irreverent, illustrated history of Australian surfing. Wedd's original artwork has been reproduced as posters, fabrics and t-shirts by Mambo Graphics and more recently as ceramic tiles by the artist.HistoryBorn in 1957 at McLaren Vale in South Australia, Gerry Wedd studied ceramics at the South Australian College of Advanced Education School of Design in Adelaide, and in 1988 was an Access Tenant at the Jam Factory Workshops in Adelaide. In 1986 he was awarded the South Australian Potters' Guild Student Award and fourth place at the Walker Ceramics Award Exhibition.
In 1990 Wedd established the Jamboree Workshop in Welland, South Australia with Peter Johnson, Jo Crawford and Phillip Hart. The workshop focused on the production of good quality tableware, with time also spent on preparing work for exhibitions. During Wedd's time at the Jamboree Workshop he focused on slip decorated tableware, his work often having a narrative quality, with subject matter drawn from popular culture.
In the late 1980s Webb began producing designs for the Mambo surf wear label. Wedd's ceramics, posters, t-shirts and fabric designs were characterised by bright colours, quirky imagery and an irreverent sense of humour that drew upon Australian society and identity, with a particular focus on music and surfing culture. In 1999 he won the Shepparton Sidney Myer International Ceramics Award, and his work is now held in a number of major national collections.
Mambo Graphics is an Australian surf and street wear company founded in 1984 by Dare Jennings and andrew Rich and has since become an international design and fashion empire. Mambo began with board shorts and t-shirts typically has a bold and bright graphic style that owes much to the cheeky and impious sense of humour of its contributing artists.
Mambo prides itself on anti-conformist sentiments, reinterpreting classic Australian imagery in often surrealist or dream-like landscapes. The humour and irreverence towards social conventions reflects surf culture's alternative, carefree lifestyle, and poses a challenge to the authority of mainstream culture.SignificanceThis poster reflects Mambo's origins as a clothing company founded in surfing culture but which has also diversified into street wear with graphics inspired by music, politics, art, humour and surfing. This poster is representative of the work of Mambo artist, Gerry Wedd and reflects his combined interests of surfing and making art.
