Gomez Surfboard Colab

Created in collaboration with acclaimed Surf Coast shaper Sergio Gomez, founder of surf label Gomez, this painted surfboard formed part of an exhibition in Torquay accompanying the launch of his book on surfboard shaping.

Sergio invited a group of artists and creatives to respond to boards he had shaped, bringing together the region’s creative and surf communities in a town with a deep surfing history and culture.

Martinich’s board was inspired by the atmosphere and sensory experience of the ocean. Bright colour draws from the visual language of the beach: swimwear, coloured zinc, fluorescent wetsuits and clear coastal water. Fluid gestures and layered marks reference the movement of waves, changing water and the physical experience of surfing.

Each side of the board was developed in a different colour way. One moves through warm yellows, apricots, oranges, pinks and soft lilacs, while the reverse shifts into cooler aquas, ocean blues and teals, punctuated by flashes of fluorescent yellow and pink. Together, the two sides create different moods while remaining part of the same visual language.

For Martinich, there is always something compelling about transferring the mark of the artist onto a smooth, functional surface and seeing it transformed into an object that sits somewhere between artwork, design and product. The shape and finish of the board inevitably influence the way the painting is made, creating a different relationship between gesture, surface and form.

As a fellow surfer, Martinich had long wanted to paint a surfboard. The opportunity to work on a hand shaped board by Sergio Gomez made the collaboration especially meaningful. It also reflects a broader part of her practice: collaboration creates opportunities to work with materials, processes and objects she might never encounter independently, continually extending the possibilities of the work and keeping the practice evolving.

Collaborator: Sergio Gomez, Gomez
Artist: Rowena Martinich
Exhibition location: Torquay, Victoria

Photography Credit: LJM Photography