Sunbathers, swimmers, surfers and surf lifesavers are the stars of a new travelling exhibition from the Australian National Maritime Museum, Waves & Water – Australian beach photographs. Covering Australian beach culture from the 1930s to 2000, the exhibition consists of 35 iconic photographs from seven leading Australian photographers: Max Dupain, Ray Leighton, Jeff Carter, Roger Scott, Ian Lever, Narelle Autio and Anne Zahalka.

Offering differing perspectives of the Australian beach and the people who populate it, the exhibition provides a fascinating insight into beach culture, and how Australia’s photographers have pictured our obsession with sun-drenched beaches and the tanned athletic bodies that use it. One of the most famous photographs featured in the exhibition is Max Dupain’s Sunbaker taken in 1937. Dupain’s photographs show his interest in light, sun, shadow, surf and the horizon lines of the beach while also focusing on the muscularity and athleticism of surf lifesavers and swimmers.

The rise of surfing and subcultures at quintessential holiday sites such as the Gold Coast was one of the topics that independent photographer and author Jeff Carter studied during the 1960s on his surfing safari. His images, shot through a telephoto lens, capture the everyday lives and moments of regular beachgoers and surfers as illustrated in Tribal Gathering of 1964.

Underwater photography became the trademark of photojournalist Roger Scott during the 1970s. His images taken in the water were radically different and provided fresh, spontaneous and exuberant images of swimmers diving into the surf or doing handstands.

The exhibition also includes Anna Zahalka’s more recent reinterpretations of classic beach photographs and paintings. In these works Zahalka questions stereotypes and the role the beach plays in our national identity, interrogating traditional images of ‘bronzed Aussie’ lifesavers in her photos of pale skinned redheads and burqa-clad swimmers.

On Friday January 23, Daina Fletcher, Senior Curator at the Australian National Maritime Musuem will present two special events. At 11.00am (DST) Daina will conduct an interactive tour of the exhibition for children, followed at 2.00pm by an exhibition floortalk. All are welcome to attend.

Image: Max Dupain, Sunbaker, 1937, printed 1987. ANMM Collection.