The 2km Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk has again been transformed into a giant sculpture park as Sculpture by the Sea marks its 30th year. The exhibition, first held in 1997, has grown into what is known as the world’s largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition and a traditional way to experience the start of summer in Sydney.
Highlights from three decades
This year’s event looks back at favourite pieces from the past three decades, including works by artists such as Claire Healy, Margarita Sampson, and Orest Keywan. Photographs of past installations show the range of sculptures that have lined the coastal path since the first exhibition.
Notable works featured in the retrospective include Charlie Trivers’ Fishbottle Quartet (2004), The Glue Society’s Hot With a Chance of a Late Storm (2006), and Justin Drape and Simone Brandse’s Big Drink (2009).
A growing tradition
More recent pieces include Stephen Marr’s The Optimist (2012), Phil Price’s Snake Bondi (2013), and David McCracken’s Diminish and Ascend (2013). The exhibition has also featured works by Lucy Humphrey, Sally Kidall, Cave Urban, Nicole Larkin, Harrie Fasher, Mu Boyan, Bruno Catalano, and Drew McDonald.
As the event enters its fourth decade, it continues to draw visitors to the Bondi coastline each spring, cementing its place as a Sydney summer tradition.
