Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi Beach Syndey
11/15/2007
If you've ever been fortunate enough to visit Australia's eastern coastline, you've no doubt been blown away by the spectacular landscape, rugged terrain and stunningly wild ocean views of the South Pacific. It's no wonder then that David Handley, founding director of Sculpture by the Sea, chose Sydney's 2km coastal walk that stretches from Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach, as the scene for his world-famous annual outdoor sculpture exhibit.
Handley launched the first exhibit ten years ago. Since then, every summer has seen original, abstract, and eye-catching works of art peppering the cliffs to a backdrop of open sky and sea.
Handley's reasons for creating the exhibit are numerous and impassioned: "In Australia we are evolving our cultural identity and developing a sophistication alongside the traditional athletic hedonism of beach," he says. "I created Sculpture by the Sea because I wanted to create something that reflected what I thought of Sydney and how I wanted Sydney to be projected to the world."
As well as the outdoor pieces, two venues along the coastal walk will host smaller wall and floor pieces. The exhibit is believed to be the biggest annual selling exhibition of sculpture in the world with prices varying from six figure sums to as little as AUD$300 (€190), "all in keeping with our 'something for everyone' philosophy," adds Handley.
Around 500,000 visitors, including collectors from around the world, are expected to attend the exhibit, which will be on display in Sydney from November 1-18 and then transported to Australia's equally breath-taking western coast – on Cottesloe Beach, Perth – from March 8-18.
For more details, visit www.sculpturebythesea.com
