Point Break: Raymond Pettibon, Surfers and Waves - Pettibon is known for his
characteristic enigmatic aesthetic and its acerbic satirical critiques of the
American culture. Although imbued with cynicism, his work empathizes with
the dizzying madness of our own humanity which engages both in the
high and low culture. Among the many motifs present in the work of
Pettibon, the most poetic is undoubtedly that of the surfer. In 1985, Pettibon
started his series of surfers and waves - on which he continues to
working to this day - popular to represent a lone surfer
silently carving "a line of beauty" along a wave
incredibly large. \n \nThis publication traces a selection of more
of a hundred surfers from the series, small monochrome works on
paper with large-scale colored paintings applied directly onto the
wall. For Pettibon's protagonist in these works, surfing exists outside
of all the rest. He momentarily attains sublimity on the distant wave
but synchronous with the turbulent reality. We are forced to confront ourselves
on our own scale: small and weak in the face of the power of nature,
what is beyond our control. Pettibon's lyrical writings on these
painted surfaces - whether their own lines or lines drawn from
literature - refer to his own philosophies and the confusions of
reality: it criticizes and highlights the hypocrisies and vanities of the world
in which he is engaged. To help him orient himself, the academic Brian
Lukacher explores the art historical antecedents of Pettibon's work,
in particular the seascapes of JMW Turner, and Jamie Brisick,
writer and former professional surfer, examines surf culture and
Southern California music during Pettibon's youth. Surfer Girls
Big wave professionals Emi Erickson and Stephanie Gilmore describe
also the sensory experience of conquering the huge waves
represented in Pettibon's works.
