Midget versus Nat

Like ancient vases that chronicle Greek mythologies, Gerry Wedd's ceramic vessels are ascribed with intriguing, detailed vignettes. The events represented on Wedd's ceramic objects, are those of contemporary surfing culture, today's myths-in-the-making. Wedd's perspective on surfing culture is that of an insider - he's been a competitive and recreational surfer for over 40 years - and his choice of subject and imagery provides a personal link to his own long engagement with the sport. Wedd's four ceramic urns record moments in the careers of Australian surfing champions Bernard 'Midget' Farrelly, Nat Young, Wayne Lynch, Peter Drouyn and Michael 'MP' Peterson. Wedd chose these individuals as much for their legendary exploits on the water as for their place within the popular consciousness of surf culture, saying, "My particular interest is in those individuals who have contributed in a major way to that culture but have been sidelined or written out of its history for eccentric or aberrant behaviours." Wedd scrutinizes rather than celebrates heroism, deploying a healthy scepticism of public personas. His work offers intelligent reflections on the construction of contemporary sporting mythologies. They are a contemplation on fame and myth-making, and astutely combine the endurance and longevity of the ceramic medium with the transience of the individual, an unavoidable truth even for those heroes among us.