Saturday, November 18, 2006

Sculpture and gale by the sea





For me, one of Sydney's most exciting annual visual arts events in Sydney is Sculpture by the Sea, an exhibition of contemporary art along the spectacular coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Tamarama. I've been dying to go since its opening on 2nd November but the weather has been quite consistently bad. I was finally able to go on Thursday at sunset and... what a show! The light was spectacular and with a gale warning on, the seas came crashing on the rocks below, sending sea spray right up the cliff. The gusts were so violent I had trouble just standing there. But what the photos fail to convey is the noise : the waves, the wind and most of all the rattling of those hundreds of little fiberglass squares attached to the metallic core of the "tree". An amazing experience really!

S'il est un événement que j'attends chaque année avec impatience, c'est bien Sculpture by the Sea, une expo d'art contemporain qui se tient le long du sentier côtier entre les plages de Bondi et de Tamarama. Voir des oeuvres d'art moderne dans ce cadre naturel est toujours pour moi une source d'émerveillement. L'expo a ouvert le 2 novembre mais à chaque fois que j'espérais y aller il a fait mauvais. J'ai enfin pu aller y faire un tour jeudi au coucher du soleil. Quel régal ! Il y avait un avis de tempête, la mer démontée envoyait des embruns jusqu'au sommet de la falaise et j'avais du mal à tenir debout tellement le vent était violent - et avec ça, une lumière somptueuse ! Mais ce que les photos ne rendent pas, c'est le bruit : le vent, le fracas des vagues et surtout le cliquetis frénétique de toutes ces petits carrés en plexiglass s'entrechoquant. Spectaculaire !
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23 comments:

Ben Nakagawa said...

Your fist shot strike me with great impact. Then the second one explains how the sculpture is stand and the third one explains size and relation to the coast. Excellent shots, Nathalie.

Lachezar said...

the sculpture is amazing but your photos are amazing.

I love the middle one

Cheers!

Olivier said...

Superbe, elles sont surprenantes ces sculptures. au debut j'ais cru que c'etait un montage. cela doit etre un spectacle magnifique.

Superb, they are surprising these sculptures. at the I beginning believed board that it was an assembly. that must be a splendid spectacle.

JaamZIN said...

i like this sculpture very much. It looks much much much much much better at the sea then in a gallery.

Eric said...

Wow, this is extremely beautiful. I love the light reflecting.

alice said...

Ah oui, j'aime beaucoup l'effet de surprise! Et le sentier côtier de puis Bondi, on peut imaginer pire comme toile de fond, n'est ce pas?

Reflex said...

On peut même imaginer le bruit du vent et des vagues, quelle bonne idée d'installer ces sculptures au bord de la mer :)

Les photos sont superbes!

Matthieu said...

Do you know what the sculpture is mae of ?

Anonymous said...

Great photo, fabulous blog!

I thought first it was made of ice. Beautiful.

Speaking of materials, that would be great to have some day a very close picture of the opera. Very few people know what it is made of..

Anonymous said...

its extraordinary. No wonder you like it !

edwin s said...

The first shot is spectacular! Brilliant having the sun behind it.

When does it end? Will I be able to see the sculptures when I come at the end of january?

Bill said...

Very cool!

Anonymous said...

I thought this was a computer projection when I first saw it. Amazing! Looks like something an architect would plop down on a small model as a representation of a tree. Really really nice.

I've heard of cities doing this sculpture by the sea (I think Helsingborg, Sweden did something like this) but never have seen any shots from them....this one sells the whole concept.

Kate said...

I am determined now to visit both Australia and New Zealand because of the bloggers. These sculptures and the entire concept is breathtaking. You are SO lucky!!

Nathalie H.D. said...

I usually think it's good discipline to select only one photo even if the choice is hard but here, you're right Ben, I posted three because each had something different to show.
I'm glad you all enjoyed the visit and Kate or Edwin if/when you come, please let me know I'd love to meet you.
Sorry Edwin, Sculpture by the Sea is only for three weeks in November. Start planning for next year!

Unknown said...

wow wow wow!

Meg said...

Amazing! And so brave of you to go on to those rocks amidst gale warning! Whatever it takes for DP?!

Carlos Lorenzo said...

I am speechless. The one in the middle is totally stunning. How lucky you are to have art next to the sea. It's a magical combination.

Cergie said...

Non seulement l'expo, mais ce message aussi est un régal
On imagine bien ce que tu as aimé et fait
Merci pour l'avoir partagé avec nous qui n'avons pas eu la chance de visiter cette expo du bord de mer sur fond d'embrun

Sally said...

Fantastic - best time of day to go too, with the sun behind.

Carraol said...

Incredible art & your work is wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Superbe!

Kala said...

wow - this is reallllly nice!! I had to click on the image to see it up close for myself and I love the idea of it being along the coastal shores - what a great backdrop and idea for a gallery!