SOMETHING CONCRETE showed as part of Bleach* Festival 2014 at Hinge Gallery / Dust Temple from 8–23 March.
In SOMETHING CONCRETE artist Claudio Kirac explores personal memories of Gold Coast history - an era of youth sub-culture and a time of discovery. Through a series of installations, photography and a publication featuring images from the lens of photographer John Mills, SOMETHING CONCRETE explores life on the Gold Coast set against a backdrop of skate boarding, corner stores, blue skies, arcade games and a youth in pursuit of finding happiness in the most simple of places.
With a photo series conducted in 2014, Claudio explores urban decay and bygone locations that resonate with skateboard history on the Gold Coast. From the lips and footings that can still be seen at the 'Ashmore Bowl' to the 'old meets new' concrete of the fabled 'Big Bowl' of Pizzey park, SOMETHING CONCRETE subliminally educates the viewer of archaeological discoveries that are the process of progress.
The exhibition also features archival photographs from 1989 thru the 90's from John Mills, who captured some of Australia's most iconic skateboarders at the start of their careers, as well as pivotal moments such as the Bones Brigade tour of Australia in 1987 and 1989. These images fuse together the past, present and future through large scale photocopied displays and a limited edition 'fanzine' published for the occasion of the exhibition.
SOMETHING CONCRETE is not a definitive guide to skate culture, but instead a contemporary vision of a simpler time - a time when you'd leave for a day of adventure in the morning and be back just in time for dinner.
