Included in the Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2024 exhibition is an arborescent work titled Tracing by acclaimed Chinese artist Professor Shen Lieyi. The three-metre-high work is made from bronze and granite, inspired by the source of flowing water and the challenges of life. Photo: Supplied.
If you have art within sight, then you will travel as far as you need to for a viewing. You may ask, and become enlightened (just like I was), about how art tourism generally refers to tourism where people travel for the purpose of exploring pursuits associated with creative activity — unsurprisingly!
While it can primarily involve visiting art festivals, exploring famous museums, wine and cuisine events, concerts and the like, it would be fair to say that travelling is a form of art. It is the canvas on which individuals create or paint their daydreams, wishes and incentives.
When it comes to waxing lyrical about new, inventive encounters in Sydney, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2024 certainly falls into a special category that fascinates.
You see, the 26th Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi has officially opened with the world’s largest free-to-the-public outdoor exhibition, featuring 100 sculptures by artists from 16 countries. Transforming the spectacular two-kilometre coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama, the display ends on 4 November.
Unconventional it may be, but be ready to see some unusual sights along the shoreline as you join the inquisitive throng to see what the fuss is all about.
Justene Williams’ Glittering Principle Sydney Shiela, which forms part of the Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2024 exhibition, running until 4 November. Photo: Supplied.
Highlights of the 2024 exhibition include this year’s three Helen Lempriere Scholarship recipients, Justene Williams (QLD), Jennifer Cochrane (WA) and Joel Adler (VIC); the two Transfield Australian Invited Artists, Patricia McTaggart Marrfurra (NT) and Mark Stoner (VIC); the recipient of the DEEPAL Australia Artist Award, Alejandro Propato (Argentina); and the two artists selected for the Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Sculptor Mentor Program, Anna May Kirk (NSW) and Morgan Hogg (NSW).
Joining renowned Australian sculptors James Rogers (NSW), John Petrie (NSW), Stephen King (NSW) and Paul Bacon (NSW), who exhibited in the first Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi in 1997, are 35 artists exhibiting for the first time, including from Switzerland, Denmark, South Korea and France.
Eleven leading artists from Japan are exhibiting, including Haruyuki Uchida, Keizo Ushio and Toshio Iezumi, and in continuing support for Ukrainian artists, Yevgen Prymachenko features this year.
Rogers joins the Double Decade Club as he celebrates his 20th time in the exhibition, and Bacon and Takeshi Tanabe (Japan) join the Decade Club.
Swimmer, by Shaumyika Sharma, is one of the more than 100 sculptures on Sydney’s breathtaking two-kilometre Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2024. Photo: Supplied.
Acclaimed Chinese artist Professor Shen Lieyi was announced as the recipient of the $100,000 Aqualand Sculpture Award for his arborescent work titled Tracing.
Founding CEO and artistic director of Sculpture by the Sea, David Handley, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Shen Lieyi is the first Chinese artist to receive the Aqualand Sculpture Award. We have a wonderful, long tradition of exhibiting major sculptures from China and this is a very significant artwork.”
This year’s sculpture walk includes a showcase of 12 artworks from 10 Indian artists. As David Handley explained, getting some of the pieces to Australia was not easy.
“The Indian Showcase demonstrates the strength and diversity of sculpture in India, and we hope it represents the next stage of our exhibition’s relationship with India,” David said.
“Thank you to the Indian artists who have worked hard with us to battle some significant disruptions to freight from India caused by this year’s cyclones that closed ports and wreaked havoc on the west coast of India.”
Shaumyika Sharma, a native of India who grew up in Australia, is an artist and architect who has exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi three times since 2022
This showcase features 10 artworks by eight artists from India: Professor Avantika Bawa (Scaffolds by the Sea), Shovin Bhattacharjee (Cosmic Nest); Harsha Durugadda (The Conversation and Whorl); Teja Gavankar (Pillar); Professor Latika Katt (Inner Connections); Dr Subodh Kerkar (Red Fold and The Chilly); S.D. Hari Prasad Achari (Flux); and Ayesha Singh (Hybrid Drawing). There are also two artworks by artists from the Indian diaspora community in Australia: Niharika Hukku’s Shelter and Shaumyika Sharma’s Swimmer).
Shaumyika, a native of India who grew up in Australia, is an artist and architect who has exhibited at the Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi three times since 2022.
The two-kilometre coastal walk to view these sculptures is connected by various walkways and stairs. Authorities have suggested some easy walking routes whereby you can see almost all of the exhibition while avoiding most of the stairs.
It is a picturesque walkabout of an artistic, though adventurous kind. Whether you stroll, pedal, take public transport or use your car to get there, this is one sojourn that proves … at its core … travel is an art form!
