Felicity Palmateer releases latest project ‘Skin Deep’
When this Aussie surf star tackles some of the heaviest, most lethal waves in the world, she does so without fear. Her latest project, Skin Deep, also channels that fearless nature. WARNING: ADULT CONTENT.
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It’s a project three years in the making, involving idyllic locations and cutting-edge technology so secret Felicity Palmateer didn’t even tell her dad until a week ago.
An outlet that allowed the 26-years-old big wave surfer and artist to meld her two passions into a project which explores her interpretation of what it means to be free.
When Palmateer tackles some of the heaviest, most lethal waves in the world, she does so without fear.
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She has tackled Skin Deep, to be released this week, with the same attitude, channelling her exuberance when charging down 35-foot faces into riding exotic and deserted breaks completely naked.
In a year in which her sport broke new ground by making all world surf league events equal prizemoney, Palmateer said surfing naked had more benefits than just “reducing drag”.
“Everyone has insecurities, I’ve had my own issues of self doubt,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.
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“It was kind of cathartic. I feel so much more empowered now I have done this. I felt really free and it was wonderful.
“I was the only female. But I felt totally comfortable with all of them (the film-making crew). I was just out there to surf and got lost in the moment.”
Palmateer, who has staged two previous solo exhibitions of her artwork, is ready for any mixed response to her latest artistic endeavour.
“I think with social media, I think with anything these days, you make your coffee wrong and someone has something to say about it,” said Palmateer, who holds the women’s record for riding the biggest wave in Australia — a monster 25-footer at the Cow Bombie break in Western Australia.
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“This is art and it’s supposed to be thought provoking. I am happy if it provokes discussion.
“I hope people see it the way I do. It is successful if it captures people’s imagination or provokes talk.”
Footage for the first part of her art project was filmed in Fiji, Hawaii, the south and north-west coasts of Western Australia and northern NSW.
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Hours of footage from state-of the-art Phantom cameras and drone cameras were edited down to four minutes of incredible imagery.
“A very big component of this production was secrecy,” Skin Deep producer Johnathan “JJ” Jenkins said.
“Many of the accessible surf zones we considered are populated year-round and also these days everyone has a camera, so it was essential we sought trusted, professional operators, not only to ensure Felicity could feel comfortable performing, but so that we could travel discreetly and record at very special locations.”
A visual arts component is to follow the release of Skin Deep.
Involving acrylic paint, watercolour and posca on digitally printed cotton rag, it is planned for next year with exhibits intended for Australia and the US.
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And for the record, when he finally saw the finished result of his daughter’s latest project, ceramic artist and fellow surfer Warrick Palmateer loved it.
“He thought it was beautiful. He taught me to surf so he’s my No. 1 fan,” Palmateer said.
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