Sculpture by the Sea 2022
After two years of Covid-enforced absence, Sculpture by the Sea is back! And its definitely worth a look.
We ventured out early Sunday morning to walk the trail from Bondi to Bronte and kept going all the way to Coogee! (A must do walk for visitors and locals.) The weather was perfect. The sun was shining, the sea sparkling and a large pod of dolphins added extra entertainment along the way. the iconic
If you’re not familiar with Sculpture by the Sea, it’s an annual exhibition that began back in 1997. The sculpture trail runs between Bondi Beach and Tamara Beach. Over 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world are scattered around the cliffs and nearby parks.
West Australian artist Tony Davis won the $70,000 Aqualand Award for Folly Interstice, a striking jarrah and steel pyramid. It was certainly one of the crowd favourites this year as was Lens (the large disco ball), by Joes Adler, and the hollowed out figure Benoit, by Bruno Catalano.
It’s hard to choose but I think my favourite was Charlie Trivers’ Bondi Sirens, carved in laminated marine ply it reflects the coastal sandstone formations carved by time and erosion. A selection of other pieces is included below.
Bondi Sirens by Charlie Trivers
Visitors to the exhibition are also invited to see Rise, a new permanent fixture on the headland. Set apart form the sculptures in Marks Park and looking out to sea, Rise, is a memorial dedicated to victims and survivors of homophobic and transphobic violence in Sydney from the seventies to the nineties. Rise aims to promotes dignity and hope. You can read more about it and the stories behind it here.
Bondi Memorial, Rise at Marks Park Bondi.
If you want to see Sculpture by the Sea, you’ll have to be quick. It’s in it’s last week and finishes on November 7. The crowds are out, so plan your trip. And if you’re lucky, the dolphins might come out to play for you too!
