Red Earth, Rawhide And Ruddy Flies

Exhibition By Anthony Pelto

Mount Isa boy Anthony Pelto recounts the story of his journey into the Australian outback with a caravan, his cockatiel Alice and 30 recycled surfboards.

Red Earth, Rawhide and Ruddy Flies presents Pelto’s photographic collection of 30 surfboards covered in cowhide featured against the magic backdrop of the Australian iconic landscapes and people.

The cowboards are the first of the ‘Pelto collection’ he has chosen to develop due to his personal connection with the Australian outback. Mt Isa has made a lasting impression on Pelto, particularly its Rodeo heritage, the friendly people and the wide open spaces. During his years spent in various country towns he started unearthing concepts to use the cowboards he had created as instillations to the startling beautiful, but harsh conditions of the outback.

Pelto journeyed from Brisbane west to the skirts of the Simpson Desert and up to the red centre, Northern Territory. This exhibition captures the lonely nature of this landscape, the richness of its beauty and the spectacular contrast between the traditional surfboard and Australian outback. Both true icons of Australian culture.