There may be no better indication that Sydney has shaken off its fears of COVID-19 than with a new installment of Sculpture by the Sea. The hugely popular event has disappeared during the pandemic, but is set for a triumphant comeback, as crowds gather on the foreshores between Bondi and Tamarama to continue where they left off in 2019.
In previous years, the gallery routinely attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors – the kind of numbers that put most blockbuster museum films to shame. The opportunity to see the sculptures in a stunning natural setting has been a huge draw, since the show’s inception in 1997 when it was a one day event. Together with sculptor Ron Robertson Swann, I had the task of choosing to work for this first sculpture on the seaand my most memorable memory is our amazement at the sheer number of entries.
The conventional wisdom at that point in history was that carving was a sparse activity, undertaken by a few fanatical artists, and appreciated by even the smallest of collectors. Working on a large scale was difficult, difficult to transport, and difficult to sell. All the famous Australian sculptors had a problem with storage, around which masterpieces were accumulated.
It’s not always the biggest works that stand out… People will still be talking about a masterful piece long after they’ve forgotten about a great piece.
sculpture on the sea Everything changed. Suddenly, there seemed to be a large and enthusiastic audience for the sculpture that had never revealed itself before. Even more surprising is the unexpected number of people making the sculptures who were excited about the opportunity to showcase their work. This was a huge surprise to organizer David Handley, who came up with the original concept for the show. In 1997, little did he know that his brilliant idea would enable him to give up the legal profession and become a full-time art entrepreneur.
The 2022 show is the 24th time the show has appeared in Bondi, but there have been more than 50 copies – at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Aarhus in Denmark, and many one-off shows. In May, a permanent snow valleys sculpture track was launched in the cities of Adelong, Batlu, Tumbarumba and Toma.
As befits an event in a city obsessed with real estate, the secret of sculpture on the seaThe initial success was location, location and location. The rugged coastline and sweeping ocean views pose a serious challenge to sculptors, asking them to do work that can withstand Mother Nature. Each year, it was easy to determine which pieces met that challenge and which ones were defeated. Larger works don’t always stand out, although often size does matter. The qualities that make for success include originality, intelligence, and prestige. People will still talk about a masterful piece long after they’ve forgotten a big piece.
The show’s democratic diversity is one of its greatest strengths and a constant source of criticism. Tricks and gags that delight the audience tend to be scorned before Cognoscenti Who complain every year that the check is a circus. A more realistic assessment would be that some of the cliched and extraneous pieces do not detract from those works of greater aesthetic ambition found in each iteration. sculpture on the sea. Great artists keep coming in, year after year, realizing that they’ll never find a better show.
over the years, sculpture on the seaAnother notable success is bringing rain, sometimes in biblical proportions. The success of this comeback fair will depend in part on people’s willingness to join a crowd again, and in part on the weather. However, one should expect a huge turnout, as Sydney is particularly fond of large-scale outdoor events. Don’t even try to stand up!
In this brief overview, from Field of 108, I’ll discuss six of the sculptures I’m thrilled to see. If you need more information, this year there is a very useful app. We hope that visitors will look up their phones occasionally and catch a glimpse of the art.
Marina Debres, Just a drop in the ocean
Marina Debres’ sculpture is just a drop in the ocean.attributed to him:Janie Barrett
In 2017, Marina Debre (“Is that her real name?”) won the Allen’s People’s Choice Prize with her nuisance shop, A temporary store filled with thousands of unwanted items washed up on the beach. Even more impressive was the precision with which the artist cataloged and arranged old cigarette butts and broken sunglasses, making them look oddly desirable and collectible. Just a drop in the ocean He revisits the environmental theme, making an oversized water droplet from trash collected from Sydney’s beaches. Once again, a delightful allure is in sight of the many brightly colored parts merging into a three meter high drop, framed by the deep blue sea. Only when we think about the ocean filled with millions of tons of this stuff does the piece take on an even more sinister meaning.
Sally Kidal Bunker Down: Survival of the Fittest
Sally Kiddle Bunker Down: Survival of the Fittest.attributed to him:Janie Barrett
Sally Kidal bunker down Contains real and virtual ingredients. What we see, tucked away in a bank not far from Bondi Beach, is a sturdy looking compact edifice with a small door. Rigidity is an illusion, because the piece is made of plywood. We are asked to imagine this as the entrance to a somewhat luxurious sanctuary, where one can hide away from nuclear war, the effects of global warming, or a violent uprising. Viewers can “enter” the vault by scanning a QR code that shows us what is supposed to be under our feet. The work is a supernatural fantasy that addresses the growing sense of fatalism and paranoia that many people feel when they think about the state of the planet today. If you’re rich enough, you might consider retreating to a well-stocked hole in the ground, like a wealthy mole.
Koichi Ishino Wind Stone – Awareness Threshold
Koichi Ishino Wind Stone – Threshold of Consciousness.attributed to him:Janie Barrett
One of the consistently strong features sculpture on the sea It was the annual participation of many excellent Japanese sculptors. Stone-carver Keizo Ushio has been represented at every Bondi show since 1999. Others, like Koichi Ishino, have enjoyed Australia so much, they have come to live here. But changing the country did not alter the perfectionism of the Japanese. Showcasing breathtaking skill with stainless steel and polished granite, Ishino has created a glossy reflective surface that allows the sculpture to blend in with its surroundings, even though it’s a completely different proposition from a physical point of view. According to the artist, wind stone It is an abstraction – a three-dimensional realization of what it feels like to “drift carelessly between conscious and unconscious”.
Joel Adler lens
Joel Adler lens for sculpting.attributed to him:Janie Barrett
Joel Adler stole the show in 2019 with a work called camera lens, which allowed viewers to look out at the sea through a large, ingeniously designed drainpipe that mimics a darkened camera. It’s back this year with another eye-catching optical device masquerading as a sculptural body. Adler has been given the much coveted space in front of Marks Park, where a circle of stone looms over the ocean. In this circle he placed a stainless steel ball that acts as a large, curved mirror, as opposed to the reflective balls one might find in a MC Escher print. Changing light and atmospheric conditions are captured in the field, simultaneously disrupting and continuing to see the horizon. Expect to find work surrounded by a crowd of selfie enthusiasts.
James Rogers, Without warning, suddenly, suddenly
James Rogers’ Out of the Blue sculpture.
Two years ago, a survey of James Rogers at Drill Hall Gallery in Canberra showed a quality and consistency that was never evident until a large sample of his work was collected in one place. Since then, he has paid more attention to his sculptures, and along with Rhonda Davis, one of these sculptures was awarded the Grand Prize for this year. carving in chromein Wollombi. Without warning, suddenly, suddenly It is typical of Rogers’ recent work. Features plated steel plates that curl, streak and fall like bark peeling from a tree. Although essentially abstract, the piece is suggestive of the natural world, especially the jungle, in which the artist makes his home. There are many well-known sculptors on this show who work in steel, but I have chosen Rogers to stand for them all. The big mistake many people make is assuming that “all metal sculptures are the same,” even a cursory glance will reveal the individuality of these works.
Nikita Zegura, Global Warming
Ukrainian artist Nikita Zegura’s work of global warming.attributed to him:Janie Barrett
Finally, one for Ukraine. When her country is under attack by barbarian Russian forces, it is almost poignant that Nikita Zegura does work on climate change, in the form of two giant pale cherries cast from aluminum and stainless steel. Presumably, the statue predated the invasion, as there probably isn’t much studio time available nowadays. One of four Ukrainian artists invited to participate in this year’s exhibition, Zygora’s work has little in common with the work of Oleksiy Zolotaryov, Dmitriy Grek and Igor Zegura. Their post is a reminder that as we enjoy the views of the Bundy Heads, we may be thinking of those who spend their days watching scenes of destruction and fighting for life and earth.
The sea sculpture runs from Bondi to Tamarama Beach until November 7.
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Originally published at Melbourne News Vine
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