What better way to start off the New Year than with a massive bulkload of great artists from across Australia, all wrapped up neatly in a sunny locale, surrounded by some of the best Australian and international tattoo artists?

Well, that’s what Surf’n’Ink promises and the accompanying exhibition, Underway is the Only Way, curated by Jianna Lucia and Maria Fina, is one of the first big group shows of the year – and it looks pretty damn cool.

“Park yourself in the urban environment of the Gold Coast, surround yourself with bright coloured exotic fish, coral reef sand beaches dotted with calypso coconut palm trees – then mix this with grass huts plastered with graffiti, and mermaids covered with tattoos and you have the perfect location for the Underway Is The Only Way art exhibition.

As a part of Surf’n’Ink Tattoo Convention on the Gold Coast, Underway is the Only Way is an art exhibition which will be showcasing artworks inspired from a range of grungy urban underbelly arts scenes spanning from the tattoo parlour, to grimey alley way street art, through to prestigious design, homebound Illustration, crazy paintings and rather fine art.”

It’s summer, biatches, and you know there aint nothing better that tatts, surf, ink and great art (we’d throw in a few beers there just for good measure) –  if you’re in the area, head down and check it all out.

Who: Rebecca Murphy, Sarah Beetson, Jack Douglas, Mishap, Tommi Arm, Rachee Renee, SEARious Jones, Braidy Hughes, Deb, Qwux, Kasino, Mel Stringer, Guz, John Warner, Faust, Poise, Skallywag, Emily Slade, Gwan (Gary Was A Ninja), Makatron, Phibs, Mayonaise, Pierre Lloga, Jasper Killick, Amanda Cain, Matt Cunnington, Conrad Bizjak, Michael Mantis, Jemproduce, Paul Parker, Jennifer Mehigan, Facter, ExRobot, Chris Hancock, Tim Rix, Kuba Fiedorwicz, Jianna Lucia, Maria Finna
What: Underway Is The Only Way Exhibition
Where: Surf’n’Ink convention, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast
When: Friday 13th January to Sunday 15th January, 2012

Check out the Surf’n’Ink website, and the Facebook event page, for more info on the exhibition.