Sydney's Sculpture by the Sea always features eclectic works but the origins of the artists can be just as diverse.
Among the 109 artists, 40 of whom are showing for the first time, are a mathematician turned industrial sculptor and an ad man turned meta-artist.
Their artworks lie adjacent on Tamarama's golden sands: one a corrugated metal ring that juts against the blue sky and the other a big black frying pan that serves as a sardonic warning for sunbathers.
The ironic message comes from the advertising mind of 32-year-old Sydney copywriter, Andrew Hankin whose 24m artwork 'we're fryin' out here' has already got tongues wagging.
"You know we're encouraging people to go out there and lay in the middle and sunbake. They're going to be doing so all around it so they may as well do it in the middle of the pan," said the first-timer in the show.
Founder David Handley says it is this irreverent, tongue-in-cheek attitude that makes the event such a hit.
"We love playful work just as much as we love more formal sculpture, and each year we feature a really broad cross-section of artworks - that variety is important to us," Mr Handley said.
He says the annual, free art show has become a part of Sydney's psyche and this year they're expecting hordes of visitors to cram the narrow path from Bondi to Tamarama once again.
For American artist Peter Lundberg, the winner of this year's $60,000 main prize, his simple piece 'Ring' was inspired by his former career as a mathematician.
"I used to study really theoretical math, which was almost like a totally abstract game, and so for me this (kind of sculpture) is almost like doing the same thing."
His misshapen circle structure built from scrap-yard metal sheets fits intimately within the windswept landscape.
"There's hardly any other place like this, hardly any place where you have such a view and the calibre of the work is so high," Mr Lundberg said.
"It's very, very special," he said.
The exhibition runs from October 23 to November 9.
Share
