March 08, 2024

    Art in the sand

    A friend hipped us to Sculpture by the Sea1 in Cottesloe2—arguably one of Australia's two most famous beaches—a captivating, annual outdoor art exhibition that transforms the Western Australian coastline into a vibrant art gallery in the sun. It sounded pretty cool and definitely like something we probably would never see back home, so we met her in town and hoiked out to the coast on the train. I mean, it's not that far, really. Maybe a half hour. On a really clean train. Oh, how I wish we had public transit like that back home. But I digress.

     

    Anyhoosy…Sculpture by the Sea is an event where the sand meets pretentiousness, where the ocean’s breeze mingles with the creative pulse of artists from around the world (but really mainly Australia because far, so far). It's a pretty unique cultural experience set against the backdrop of nature’s pure awesomeness.

    Lifeblood, Johannes Pannkoek

    Fortitude, Yuko Takahashi

    Memory, Koichi Ishino

    Sculpture by the Sea started in 1997 at Bondi Beach3 in Sydney (the other most famousest beach in Australia). Its initial mission statement reads like a dreamer's manifesto, spinning out of a vision to create a free public arts event for Sydney, inspired by community events and the majesty of sculpture experienced in 13th-century Bohemian ruins.4 From its humble beginnings—when, no kidding, the budget was $100—the exhibition has grown into a beloved annual event, expanding to Cottesloe in 2005.

    Marco Polo Airport Runway VCE, Jon Tarry; Propose, Ayad Alqaragholli

    The Top of the Balance, Chen Wenling 

    Now, honestly, sculptures in the sand…I half-expected the exhibition to lean more towards a local arts-and-crafts show. Wrong! The beach had been transformed into an outdoor gallery for serious art, with more than 70 works created by artists from 15 different countries. The experience was a delightful shock, like finding a pearl in your oyster at dinner.

     

    I Believe I Can Fly, Gleb Dusavitskiy

    Enfant Prodige, Leonardo Cumbo

    Some favorites:

     

    Sean Henry's Seated Man was the star of the show, appearing as the hero image on all the publicity material. He’s a contemplative figure pondering life's great wait—or maybe he just missed the bus. There’s really no way of knowing. The important thing is that it was hyper-realistic in a way that invited you to sit down and hit him up for a spare cigarette.

    Seated Man, Sean Henry

    Papare/Protection by Anton Forde is a monumental tribute to Mother Nature, with 60 pou figures5 carved to stand taller than humans, embodying the principle that nature deserves our utmost respect and care. Grouped in 10 clusters of six, these guardians form a kao kao (chevron) pattern facing the Indian Ocean, symbolizing a protective embrace.

    Papare/Protection, Anton Forde

    Yoshio Nitta's I Put a Moon on the Table, Someone is Living on It was a poetic reminder that we're all just looking for a place to call home, even if it's a bit out of this world.

    I Put a Moon on the Table, Someone is Living on It, Yoshio Nitta

    April Pine's Echo is a silent conversation between the artist and the sea, a dialogue we're all privy to but can never quite grasp.

    Echo, April Pine

    A Bridge Too Far by Jimmy Rix is a sly nod to the world's overreachers, dreamers, and I-think-I-can-ers. It's a bridge to somewhere or perhaps nowhere. But it's the journey that counts, right?

    A Bridge Too Far, Jimmy Rix

    And then there's Dave by Melbourne-based Coady. This one is probably not everyone’s cup of tea,6 but I loved it the most. Dave is a nod—and a wink—to Michelangelo’s David, updated for modern times. He’s the quintessential baby boomer in millennial clothing, a timeless figure navigating the fluid seas of social change. Dave doesn't just stand—he exists, he endures, he's the mate you've never met but feel like you've known forever.

    What a great experience to see great art in such a fantastic environment. Sculpture by the Sea will be in Sydney later this year. If you have plans to anywhere nearby, you have to go. It'll be a day well spent.

     

    Remember—art is subjective, but sunburns are not. Slather on that sunscreen and enjoy the view!


    1. Hi, Mali!!

     

    2. Cottesloe is a thick slice of coastal paradise where the sand is as white as the teeth of all the dentists with mansions homes on the esplanade. It's the kind of place where you can soak up the sun and surf, smug in the knowledge that you’re being seen at Perth's most picturesque playground. Whether you flex your muscles or your credit card, “Cott” is the beach where Perth's elite come to play, and us plebes come to gawk.

     

    3. Well, technically, the "Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk" because, as impressive as the Sydney beaches are, there's no denying that the beaches are much, much bigger in Perth. Sorry, Sydney. The truth hurts.

     

    4. Sculpture by the Sea’s founder, David Handley, was living in Prague in 1995 when he visited an outdoor sculpture park in Klatovy, northern Bohemia. His experience—modern sculpture set amidst the ruins of history—sparked his desire to create something similar in Australia. Of course, at just 124 years old, there are not a lot of historical ruins in Australia. So he pivoted to art in the context of Australia’s raw natural beauty. And it worked!

     

    5. In Māori culture, a pou is a carved wooden post or pillar that symbolizes strength and support—a sentinel of shelter, a guardian against the elements. Or maybe just a really elaborate coat rack.

     

    6. Who am I kidding? Neither Rick nor Mali especially liked Dave. I may be the minority here. LATE BREAKING UPDATE: Turns out Mali liked Dave as much as I did! So that put's Rick in the minority! Hah!

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