Artist's statement for the piece:

‘Morning Surf Check’ is something different. We saw this happen one day on one of our beach walks. A father and son came to the front of the dune, both had a good look at the surf on the day, squinting into the morning sunrise at the poor swell. The Dad must have said something like, ‘Nah, it’s not worth it son. Let’s get some breakfast’. And with that they turned on their heels and headed back up the track.

Tim Winton wrote that surfing is one of the few ways left for men to be graceful.. But it’s more than that. Even a morning bobbing on a gentle swell not catching anything is powerfully regenerative. We need to understand this way of connecting with the ocean, nature and country. As 2020 has reminded us, connection to nature and each other are two of the core forces which shape our lives. It can and will be so much more in the future, when the pandemic crisis passes and we are left to assess and to cultivate what is truly meaningful.

This work takes me back to those wonderful mornings I spent surfing with my son Zac when he was growing up. For the young ones, it’s always worth the paddle out.

Looking back, I think they’re right.