Mambo Greetings from Mambo - Maid in Australia
Artist
David McKay
Publisher
Mambo Graphics Pty Ltd
Date2000
Object number00030711
NamePoster
MediumColour lithograph on paper
DimensionsOverall: 990 x 660 mm, 0.18 kg
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Mambo Graphics Pty Ltd
DescriptionDavid McKay created this poster design as a contributing artist for Mambo. The poster was used to in Mambo stores and by retailers to promote Mambo's 2000 range. The poster plays on tourist picture postcard imagery and includes elements of McKay's botanical and figurative signatures and dry wit. In 2001 McKay painted a ceiling mural and exhibition for Mambo's flagship store in London, bringing contemporary Australian art to an international audience in a fashion retail context.HistoryMambo Graphics is an Australian surf and streetwear company founded in 1984 by Dare Jennings and Andrew Rich and has since become an international design and fashion empire. Mambo began with boardshorts and t-shirts and 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.SignificanceThe bold graphic style of Mambo appealed to Australia's youth and was regarded as being in dubious taste by more conservative middle class Australia. Mambo successfully expanded into the surf wear markets in Europe, the United States of America and Asia. This poster is representative of the work by contributing Mambo artist David McKay.
