This March marks the return of Perth’s largest free outdoor art exhibition, ‘Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe’. Stretching along the white sands and grassed terraces of Cottesloe beach overlooking the Indian Ocean, the exhibition will feature works from over 70 artists from across the world, along with home grown local and interstate sculptors.
Hosted by 720 ABC Perth Drive presenter John McGlue, the exhibition will be declared open this Friday 6 March by the Hon. John Day MLA – Minister for Planning, Culture and the Arts. Day will also announce the recipient of the Western Australian Sculptor Scholarship. Senator for Western Australia, the Hon. David Johnston will be at the launch as well as the Mayor of the Town of Cottesloe, Jo Dawkins.
Now in its 11th year, the exhibition includes works from some of the world’s most distinguished artists. Sometimes controversial artist David Černý from the Czech Republic is exhibiting in Perth for the first time with his giant baby sculptures, alongside celebrated Chinese sculptors Chen Wenling and Wang Shugang, with Wenling exhibiting a new striking red, larger than life figure stretching three metres along the ground. In contrast, American sculptor, Peter Lundberg’s rough concrete work was formed beneath the red earth of the Margaret River in preparation for the show.
There will also be 31 artists from Western Australian and 17 from other regions across Australia. The exhibition will feature ‘Sculpture by the Sea’s’ first fully submerged sculpture, created by South Fremantle artist Olivia Samec and her partner, James Moe, whose work will be best seen by those swimming near groyne or viewed from the groyne when the water is calm.
Mount Lawley artist Norton Flavel, who was responsible for creating bulk carrier, is back with another larger than life piece, lucky country, as is Annette Thas who took home the People’s Choice Award last year for her unforgettable sculpture, wave 1 constructed from Barbie dolls. Thas returns to the shores again, using the leftover Barbie dresses from last year’s work to create a kinetic sculpture for this year’s exhibition.
Western Australian artist Tim Macfarlane Reid will also be welcomed into the Sculpture by the Sea Decade Club at the launch, having exhibited 10 times at ‘Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe’. Tim has created a major new work for this year’s exhibition titled One Door Opens which will be
located under the pine trees at Cottesloe beach looking across the water.
An estimated 220,000 visitors are expected to flock to the temporary outdoor sculpture park during the 18-day event, from serious art-lovers and collectors to members of the general public looking to enjoy the sculptures whilst enjoying the sun, sea and sand at Perth’s most popular beach.
Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe
6 to 23 March, 2015
Perth
Ayad Alqaragholli, habibi; Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2014
Photo by Jarrad Seng
Image supplied by artist Chen Wen Ling for 2015 ‘Sculpture by the Sea’ media