Sculpture by the Sea is 20 years old. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Bondi to Tamarama section of Sydney's Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, Sculpture by the Sea is the largest annual sculpture exhibition in the world. David and I try to go every year and this year turned out to be a lot more dramatic than most. As we watched from the safety of the cliffs, a king tide combined with huge waves sent one sculpture into oblivion and damaged several others. It was as though mother nature was determined to put her mark on the exhibition.
Not really being the artistic type there isn't a lot I can say about sculpture, so sit back and enjoy the photos of some of my favourites. I have included the prices in the captions just in case you have a bit of spare change laying around and fancy a bit of modern art for the front garden.
Sculpture by the Sea
If you are curious to see before and after photos of the sculpture which was destroyed scroll down to the end of this post.
 |
| Wave Wall by Zhou Tengxiao - $60,000. This was by far my favourite. Before high tide arrived it was surrounded by dry sand and visitors were walking right up to it without getting wet. At the height of the waves it looked like it was half-way out to sea. Can you see Norton Flavel's 'Fluid' photobombing in the background? David and I looked and looked for that sculpture and couldn't find it. It wasn't until we got home and I downloaded my photos that I discovered it had been hanging beneath a cliff the whole time. |
 |
| Buried Rhino by Gillie and Marc Schattner - $60,000. I thought this looked more like a brontosaurus than a rhino but it was lovely to see children having a ball playing around it. |
 |
| Mountains Air - Circles by Koichi Ishino - $60,000. |
 |
| The Tractor by Markus Hofer - price on application. I am sure this sculpture says something about Australia but I don't know what. |
 |
| The Window of the Future by Sang Sug Kim - $50,000. |
 |
| M151201 by Toshio Iezumi - $30,000 |
 |
| Dave by Cathyann Coady - $14,800. |
 |
| Stack by Clara Hali - $46,000 |
 |
| From the Nest by Seung-Hwan Kim - $70,000 |
 |
| Oushi Zokei 2016 by Keizo Ushio - $185,000 |
 |
| Fair Dinkum Offshore Processing by Bronek Kozka - $27,500 - before the waves began crashing in. |
 |
| After the waves swept it away. |
Sculpture by the Sea runs until 6 November. You will find the sculptures along the coastal walkway between Bondi and Tamarama Beaches. Entry to the exhibition is free.
My tip: Purchase a catalogue at one of the information tents. The catalogue contains a statement of what the artist intended to achieve with each sculpture as well as a short biography. Catalogues are $10 each.
If you enjoyed this post please consider sharing it. I always appreciate the compliment. You will find social media share buttons below and in the left-hand side margin.
I publish a new post every Thursday or Friday, depending on your time zone. If you would like to follow our travels, check back each week or enter your email address in the 'Never miss a post: Follow by email' box in the right hand sidebar just below my profile picture.
I had every intention of going but my friend's hubby talked me out of it ;) ;) ;)
ReplyDeleteHaha - Oh not, was that David? I must confess that one of the things I enjoy most about it each year is David's outraged commentary on almost every piece. Modern art is definitely not his cup of tea.
DeleteI used to work for our local Arts Council procuring sculptures for our public arts gallery. I would love to see something like this. I love that organic one Stack - so beautiful. I had to laugh at Dave and gasp at the one destroyed by waves! Very cool! Thanks for sharing and cheers from Copenhagen - Erin #WeekendWanderlust
ReplyDeleteI love this. I love the beach and I love outdoor sculpture; artists can be whimsical and create for the natural setting, as some of these seem to.
DeleteHi Erin,
DeleteI am glad you enjoyed my post. You will have to come to Australia one day and see Sculpture by the Sea for yourself. David and I visited Copenhagen many years ago and loved it. It is a lovely city.
Hi Eileen,
DeleteI read somewhere that many of the artists ask for their sculptures to be placed as close to the shoreline as possible because they want the ocean as a backdrop.
Well there goes $27 500 sculpture!! I went to the Sculptures By the Sea last year, but I keep finding myself hating the crowds on the Coogee to Bondi walk and event hough I live in Coogee, I don't think I'll be going there this year so it's great that you have posted a selection here for me to enjoy without the crowds!
ReplyDeleteDavid and I try to go mid-week and avoid the crowds but I was amazed how many people were there on a Monday.
DeleteLove it. Art is one reason we love to travel and to see it set amongst nature is briliant
ReplyDeleteDavid and I tend to avoid art galleries. We are much more outdoor people so Sculpture by the Sea tends to be our one hit of culture each year.
DeleteWow this is really interesting, would love to go one year. The art is very impressive and it does hurt that it is being displayed in such a lovely setting. I like all the ones you pictured, don't think I could chose a favorite. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to come to Sydney one day. There were so many more which I didn't show in my post.
DeleteReally creative sculptures! Such a great way to enjoy the art pieces in this beautiful natural surrounding #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteI agree. I am not really an art person but I love Sculpture by the Sea.
DeleteSculptures By The Sea never ever disappoints! One day I'll actually get there. The traffic always used to deter me. :(
ReplyDeleteWe try to go during the week to avoid the crowds. I've never found the traffic that bad. Parking can be a bit tricky but we just park a bit further away and walk. You end up doing a fair bit of walking anyway.
DeleteMy favorite is the buried rhino. He seems to be enjoying a trip to the beach ;) #weekendwanderlust
ReplyDeleteYou are right. He looks like he's having a ball. Before the waves started crashing in he was surrounded by children.
DeleteThis looks so beautiful! Too bad this is not a permanent exhibit. I'm planning to go to Sydney and I was hoping to be able to see the sculptures. Maybe I should plan my trip around this festival, although I hate crowds. #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteMost of the sculptures are probably too delicate to leave in place permanently. I quite like the fact that it is only temporary, it makes me actually go rather than just keep saying I'll go - lol. The crowds aren't too bad and not at all if you avoid weekends. It is the parking which can be a bit of a hassle. Make sure you contact me before you arrive in Sydney so we can organise lunch or something.
DeleteThese are fabulous. I would love to stroll along the oceanway looking at these. :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous is a great word for it - sums Sculpture by the Sea up nicely.
DeleteLooks like a great day out. It amazing how these concepts come about, have difficulty understanding the tractor and the pink fluid though but certainly interesting! #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteI couldn't work the tractor out either but it was still fun to look at.
DeleteI thought some of this statues are cool. Like you mentioned, it would be good to have the catalog in order to appreciate them more. I am sure my husband will find some of these funny. #wkendtravelinspiration
ReplyDeleteIt just isn't the same without the catalogue and even though the event is free I am fairly sure it is run by a Not for Profit organisation so buying the catalogue is a way of saying thankyou.
DeleteLove love love Sculpture by the Sea. We have one in Perth on Cottesloe beach every year - such fun and such artistic ingenuity. Looks like the Sydney one is much the same :)
ReplyDeleteI thought there was also one in Perth but I wasn't sure.
DeleteWe love contemporary art and I can understand why you try to go to the Sculpture by the Sea exhibit every year. A lovely way to combine a day by the sea with admiring some sculptures. I would definitely buy the catalog as one of the fun things about the the art form is trying to guess what the artist wants to convey and then trying to mesh our perspectives - or not. :) So oftentimes we're completely off-base but that's the fun of it!
ReplyDeleteHaha - you have summed up the reason to buy the catalogue perfectly.
DeleteThis looks perfect! I'd love to visit this place!
ReplyDeleteOn a sunny Sydney day it is just glorious.
DeleteSydney's Sculpture by the Sea looks pretty interesting. I especially like that tractor dripping paint.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, even if I don't know what it means.
DeleteLoved the sculpture, but the price tags not so much. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha - not all of them sell but some do. Perhaps the price is negotiable.
DeleteI love outdoor sculpture! I liked the reflections in the Mountains Air-Circles but I think my favourite is the Wave Wall - a wonderful contrast of colours.
ReplyDeleteThe Wave Wall is lovely. It was my favourite too.
DeleteSculptures by the Sea looks like a great art exhibit. Thx so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure.
DeleteHi Lyn,
ReplyDeleteIt's really fun that you posted all the prices -- and to know they are all for sale. Bondi Beach seems the perfect venue for the large pieces, especially the buried rhino!
~Josie
For those of us who would never in a million years be able to spend that kind of money on art the prices are fun!
DeleteM151201 is my favorite, and it's one of the more affordable ones! #wkendtravelinspiration
ReplyDeleteHaha - it is probably still for sale if you want it.
Delete