Outside the box
We
tend to think of ‘art’ as being something that exists
in a building somewhere. There’s also a perception that
anything outside that conventional view falls into the basket
of ‘public art’ and is somehow less ‘art’
because of its public nature. For 11 years now, the annual Sculpture
by the Sea exhibition has challenged those ideas, and it’s
back bigger than ever this year.
The exhibition is a moving feast of works along
the cliff tops between Sydney’s Bondi Beach and Tamarama.
This year’s event boasts over 100 sculptures from both local
and international artists.
The organisers predict the exhibition will be seen
by over 500,000 visitors – possibly as many as 1 million
– over its 19 day run on Sydney’s eastern shores.
Certainly, the experience of viewing the works in the open air
with the striking backdrop of the Pacific Ocean sets this apart
as an exhibition with a difference.
Sculpture by the Sea also includes a competitive
component, the NAB Sculpture Prize, worth $30,000 to the winner.
This year’s prize was taken out by David Horton for his
work, ‘Yesternight: Work in Progress’. The Wollongong
artist, who teaches sculpture at the city’s TAFE, entered
the competition for the first time this year, on “a whim”.
Among the works to stand out in this year’s
exhibition, Tim Kyle’s ‘I-Sea’ – a fibreglass
rendering of a giant staring Easter Island-like over Bondi beach
– is sure to be a popular attraction. German artist Irene
Hoppenberg strikes an Aussie cultural note with her ‘Lemon
Tree’, featuring 1300 lemons hung from a Hills hoist.
Dillon McEwan makes a spectacular statement with
his piece, ‘Carcutter’, which features huge insects
attacking a Mercedes Benz; while Frank Malerba goes pop art with
his piece, ‘Bondi Fashion Accessory’.
Although Sculpture by the Sea might not
have the heft of some gallery-based exhibitions, this is a fine
example of bringing art to the wider community. It also features
some damn fine sculpture, and its importance as a showcase of
the sculptural form shouldn’t be under-rated.
If you miss out on this event, there is a companion
event on the west coast. It’ll be held at Perth’s
Cottesloe Beach in March next year.
David Edwards
