Sculptures on a grand scale

A wave of eucalypt sticks threatens to break in Mark’s Park, concrete stairs along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk have transformed into ebony and ivory piano keys and a giant steel lifeguard watches over Bondi beach, wearing nothing but a thin patina of oxidisation.

Welcome to Sculpture by the Sea 2010.

This year marks the fourteenth annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition and has drawn artists from all over the country and across the globe including Denmark, England, India, Japan and the USA.

Founding director David Handley thanked all those involved with the exhibition. He said that despite the economic downturn over the past two years that resulted in $270,000 in lost sponsorship, new initiatives and the presence of Sir Anthony Caro from England meant this year’s Sculpture by the Sea would be memorable.

The top prize of $60,000 was awarded to Danish artist Keld Moseholm for his work Mirroring 1995. The bronze and granite piece may be difficult to find for those without a site map; hiding in Mark’s Park and standing at just 145cm in height, it depicts a portly man reflected in an imaginary mirror.

Those seeking grand scale over subtle nuance will not be disappointed – this year’s 109 sculptures are an eclectic mix filled with colour and curve. Notably grand works include Bureaucratic Tank (Edward Horne, NSW), a tank made out of filing cabinets and office lights; Splash (Tomas Misura, NSW) a giant tube shooting its red insides into the air; and Evidence – the trail continues (Kerrie Argent, WA), a slimy slug trail made of recycled plastic lids and red cable ties stretching across Tamarama beach.

Pack a lunch and enjoy the beautiful coastal views along with some truly remarkable sculptures. Sculpture by the Sea will be on exhibit until November 14.

– By Liam Kinkead