The 'guitar man' figure documents the Powerhouse Museum's innovative approach to using iconic figures and sculptures to create an exciting environment at the entrance to an exhibition. In the original painting for the 'Real Wild Child' poster Reg Mombassa created a striking icon image and logo which gave the exhibition (and, later, the 'Real Wild Child' CD-ROM) a strong identity and recognisable Powerhouse Museum branding. 'Guitar man' shows innovation in Mombassa's design, and in Storageman's construction technique and the use of recycled materials.

Reg Mombassa has been collaborating with Mambo since shortly after the company was created in 1984. Since his very first Mambo graphic - Violent Hen, a fire-breathing fowl, that eventually became one of Mambo's most memorable boardshort fabrics, Reg has contributed much to Mambo, and many of his graphics are now considered T-shirt and fabric classics. Reg has carved out an eclectic career as musician, artist and writer. A prolific artist, Reg's work has adorned several of Mambo's most popular T-shirts. Over the past 15 years, Reg's artwork has also graced CD covers, a Melbourne tram, billboards, calendars, and has been frequently reproduced in magazines such as Rolling Stone, Juxtapose and Raygun. Reg also won first prize in the Museum Publications Design Competition held by the American Association of Museums in 1995 for his poster of the Powerhouse Museum's 'Real Wild Child' travelling exhibition about the history of Australian rock music. His artwork is included in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Reg's former band, Mental as Anything, was formed in 1976, and has released 11 albums while Dog Trumpet, a musical collaboration between Reg and his brother Peter, has produced two albums and continues to perform live.

This sculpture was made by Storageman (Hugh Ramage and Peter King) and designed by Reg Mombassa (Chris O'Doherty) of Mambo. The sculpture was constructed based on a painting done by Reg Mombassa that was commissioned by the Powerhouse Museum as the poster and logo for the 'Real Wild Child' exhibition (1994). Although he had the opportunity to view the making of it in production, Reg did not see it until it was installed. He 'trusted emphatically' Storageman's interpretation. The size was specified by the Powerhouse Museum designer Diana Lorentz.

The 'guitar man' figure was installed at the entrance to the 'Real Wild Child' exhibition, to entice visitors, stamp the exhibition with a strong identity and create an exciting environment at the entrance. It also provided a photo opportunity for visitors to the exhibition. It was used not only during the exhibition's tenure at the Powerhouse (March 1994-Jan 1996), but also on the national tour (May 1996-May 1998).

Sculpture, 'Guitar Man', fibreglass / polystyrene foam / metal, designed by Reg Mombassa (Chris O'Doherty), made by Storageman (Hugh Ramage and Peter King), Redfern, 1994

Large sculpture of the 'guitar man' figure based on Reg Mombassa's poster for the 'Real Wild Child' exhibition. It depicts a stylised image of a human figure playing an electric guitar, designed so that the guitar forms the player's torso with the head and limbs emerging from it. The figure has pink human-like arms, legs and head, with yellow shoes. His blue torso resembles the body of an electric guitar. His right hand is picking the guitar strings while the left hand is on the yellow fretboard. A yellow lead is plugged into the side of the guitar and into the figure's head, which has two eyes protruding at odd angles, a large round mouth with a speech bubble containing musical notation and other symbols. The yellow headstock of the guitar has the appearance of an animal's face. The figure has a metal internal structure. The polystyrene foam used in its construction was recycled. The head is attached to the body via a metal rod protruding from the neck, and can be stored separately. The sculpture originally had five unattached accessories - a dog, chicken, sun, beer can and condom. Some were lost during the life of the exhibition. The beer can and the chicken remain. The beer can is white, orange and black, with a metal ring to allow it to be suspended. It is of an irregular shape, resembling a squashed beer can.

Designed: Mombassa, Reg;

Made: Ramage, Hugh; Redfern, New South Wales; 1994

Made: King, Peter; Redfern, New South Wales; 1994

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