All the featured artists at the 2008 Malfunction have a very close affinity with the Pacific Ocean and this is strongly reflected in their work.  One theme evident in this year's exhibition is the campaign to save the whales, which is a subject close to the hearts of most surfers in this part of the world.

 

Howie Cooke leads the charge here with his close association with and Sea Shepherd and the Surfers for Cetaceans group.

 

Most mediums will be well represented at this year's exhibition, including oils and acrylics on either canvas or board, watercolours and pastels on paper, and even oils on black velvet harking back to the style of the 1940's and 50's Tahitian and Hawaiian artists.

 

Profiles

Dean Cogle

 

 

Exhibiting since 1993, artistic avenues have fulfilled most of Dean's escapist tendencies from as early as his pre-school days.

 

Predominant regional landmark icons to domestic subject matter provide inspiration and material for documenting snippets of coastal culture and heritage to enlightening road-trips. Design elements combined with urban and coastal themes as focal points are used to produce works enhanced by a strong interest in proportion and balance to draw in the observer. Occasional diversions into pop-culture can be attributed to influences such as graphics, new-illustration, architecture and photography.

 

Arts related industries including print, film, theming, advertising, graphic design, illustration, and more recently the rag trade provide the passport for this self-taught artist.

www.deancogle.com

 

Tania Wursig

Sydney born and based artist of German, Finnish and Gypsy descent, who attributes much of the exotic nature of her work to her diverse cultural background.

Exhibiting regularly both here in Australia and abroad, her paintings are in private collections world wide.

Wursig's most recent works remain an exploration of the sensual.  She has created a unique style of combining figurative work with the textural possibilites of painting on silk.  These paintings have a depth and intensity, which distinguishes her style from other figurative painters in the Australian art community.

www.taniawursig.com/

 

Howie Cooke

Howie Cooke is one of the founders of Minds in the Water and the Visual Petition, and is also co-founder of the Surfers for Cetaceans organisation. Howie has contributed his beautiful artwork for use in the Visual Petition.

Howie Cooke & Dave Rastovich with the painting to be auctioned off during the

Domain Casuarina Beach Resort Luau Dinner to raise funds for the Surfers for Cetaceans

 

Mal Leckie 

An Australian artist who has his studio near Coolangatta in Queensland. In satisfying his passion for the remote and powerful environments of Australia, Mal has travelled widely to all corners of the continent in search of source material, from the vast desert expanses of Western Australia and the Northern Territory to the intimate forests of New South Wales and Victoria. His artworks are acknowledged for their capacity to transmit the ‘feel’ of the locations from which they were drawn and to provide a subtle visual experience that evolves with time, changing moods in the changing lights of the day. Mal works only from direct observation and experience of place; drawing and painting small studies on site in the strong tradition of Australian landscape art and translating these ‘notes’ into substantial canvases back in the studio. Although he is principally a contemporary landscape painter and draughtsman, Mal also has training and experience in the areas of sculpture, printmaking, photography, illustration, public art and design.

www.malleckie.com.au

 

Daryn McBride 

A New Zealander, he lives and breathes surfing, shaping surfboards, riding a quiver that is wholesome and complete. Working with his art in the surfing world. Surfing posters, poster art, original surfing art, single fin surfing and a general love of the activity are what drives Daryn Mcbride and his works.

www.darynmcbride.co.nz

 

Leisa O'Brien

I have two great passions – one is painting and the other is surfing.

I am compelled to capture the vibrancy and beauty of nature’s simplest elements and man’s connectivity and interaction with them. My fascination with the ocean is ongoing and continually challenging me. I’m inspired by the bold, ever-changing light in this magnificent country. The way the morning light pierces through a clean, glassy wave or the setting sun tints the water. I love the pure, pristine colours and powerful, evocative shadows enhanced by the strength of the Queensland sun.
 

I’ve wanted to be an artist since I was 5 years old but listened to others around me saying “You can’t make a living out of art”…so I only started my surf painting when I became pregnant in 2003 and could no longer surf.  
 

In essence I am a traditionalist, however I aim to represent what I’m seeing realistically in shape and perspective but exaggerate and explore light and colour.  I do this to exemplify the feeling and thought I’m experiencing from that particular scene. Every subject I focus on intuitively attracts an emotional response from me - which is what I’m always trying to pass on to the onlookers. 

 

Darryl Miller

Wahine Painting

 

A well known Tweed/Gold Coast surfing identity who these days specializes in trading vintage surf collectables.  Darryl's background in art goes back to the 1960's when his father, Perc Miller, operated their Black Velvet art studio and gallery across the road from the old Surfers Paradise State School.  Darryl went on from winning children's art shows to follow in his Dad's footsteps with painting in oils on velvet and selling his work right through the South Seas and into America and Europe.  One of Darryl's early  works hangs in the Portland Black Velvet Art Museum in Oregon.