On The Water

You may have thought that surfing started with the sunkissed dudes in California in the 60s but this exhibition reveals there were early sketches of surfers during the voyages of Captain James Cook in the 18th century and iconic hand sculpted wooden surfboards.

The exhibition takes the visitor through the flower power of the 1960s surf scene to the garish fluorescent colours of the 1980s with paintings, posters, photography and film.

Vintage wetsuits, posters and even surf board wax all show how the surf scene has evolved over the years.

The new show has been put together by Brighton's British Surfing Museum. 

The museum has the most extensive and historically significant collection of vintage surfboards, literature and memorabilia on public display and for academic research in Britain.

Among the artefacts on display will be original British surfboards dating back almost a century featuring art and sculptural forms. 

Also on show will be stunning replicas of ancient Hawaiian surfboards hand carved by  Tom Pohaku Stone - a lecturer in Hawaiian culture and surfer of legendary status.

Havant Museum - 19 January to 1 March 2008 | Red House Museum in Christchurch - 3 May to 14 June 2008