Sculpture by the Sea

The biggest outdoor sculpture exhibition in the world returns with a thump and a whomp this year as it celebrates its 15th anniversary. Sculpture by the Sea began with founder David Handley’s dream to establish a major, free-to-the-public, art show in the city to reinvigorate the city's oft-erring sense of community. The exhibition has grown to become one of Sydney’s favourite cultural events, and now gets around around half a million visitors flocking to the Bondi to Tamarama Coastal Walk to see more than 100 outdoor sculptures by Australian and international artists.

Sculpture by the Sea has a history of showcasing artwork that is creative, original and with a link to the ocean, and this year is no exception. Bondi Advertising, which comprises of Bondi locals Jonas Allen and Steven Thomson, are the artists behind 'Message in a Bottle', a sculpture that incorporates both the real and the virtual. “If you don’t own a smart phone you’ll see a large washed up old bottle on the rocks," says the pair. "If you do, however, you’ll definitely discover there’s a whole lot more to it. So what you see depends on how you look at it. Literally.”  

The sculpture contains a digital code that viewers can download as an app to reveal a virtual bronze mermaid floating within the vessel. The piece is very original, and in keeping with the interactive aspirations of the exhibition. “Sculpture audiences over the years have always come to expect something fresh and unusual, so hopefully it won’t ruin a nice walk,” joke the artists. The piece references the history of the Bondi area. “During the 1960s there were a pair of bronze mermaid sculptures that sat atop the rocks at Ben Buckler, and part of this is a small homage to the spirit of those.”  

Along the walk, seek shade under the Mark's Park marquee, the temporary home of Sculpture Inside. Sculpture Inside showcases more than 200 smaller sculptures by participating artists and runs concurrently with the outdoor exhibition.

This year's show is starting and ending a week later than usual so that a former local, Princess Mary of Denmark, can attend.