You read about art history - about movements, groups, collectives, art communities - and you wonder about that moment just before it had a name. Most artists who've ever been part of a movement tend to shun the labels that are stuck on them anyway.
That magnetic hurricane that whips artists together is so unexplainable and so hard to hold.
"Beautiful Losers" is an exhibition, book and now a film that tries to offer a chaotic snapshot at an amazing group of artists who all operate under an umbrella that history is yet to get a handle on.
This bundle of artists have been drawn together by curator and legend Aaron Rose who recognized the spirit of a kind of art made under the influence of subcultural radness. These artists - Ed Templeton, Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Jo Jackson, Chris Johanson, Thomas Campbell, Geoff McFetridge, Mike Mills, Stephen Powers, Harmony Korine and Shepard Fairey - all spawn from skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop and graffiti. And have all gone on to craft inspiring, stupid, bold, amazing, funny, out-of-the-box art.
This film totally embraces the anti-establishment, DIY ethos of a new wave of artists who are going to be glowing in history books in the not-too-distant future. This film is going to be compulsory viewing in classrooms in 2034 - trust me.
You probably won't be at school then, so watch it now.
Australian Centre For The Moving Image
Federation Square
Melbourne VIC 3000
2 July - 5 July 2009