An artist's sand portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II at Brighton Beach in Adelaide has survived the high tide, much to her surprise. Sue Norman created the 12-metre profile on Monday, expecting it to be washed away by the evening tide, but the water kept a respectful distance.
Ms Norman began work on the sandala—a blend of 'sand' and 'mandala'—at 10am, completing it in three hours. She invited the public to view and lay flowers, anticipating the artwork would last only until around 6pm. However, the tide never rose high enough to erase it.
On Facebook, Ms Norman expressed her astonishment: 'I'm so surprised that the Queen's sandala not only lasted until sunset, but the tide never came up high enough to wash it away.' Commenters shared her joy, with one noting a 'dodge tide and full moon' as a possible explanation.
Speaking to ABC Radio, Ms Norman said hundreds visited the creation, drawing parallels to the queues in London to pay respects. 'I've created a space,' she said, highlighting the impermanence of sand mandalas as a way to process emotions.
