Sculpture by the Sea 2015.. IV et fini.. (maybe)

I enjoyed this piece by Virginia King (NZ).. titled 'turning stones' the artist's inspiration 'is the delicate balance between sustainability and progress and Earth's vulnerable eco-systems' . It was pretty difficult to get a shot without someone's head popping through the middle :) Tim Macfarlane Reid (WA) below, was inspired by a quote from R.Tagore.. titled 'one door opens' .. 'and because I love this life, I shall love death as well'. I like both the quote and the curves!

A Daily Details moment below? 'for the love of sculpture' an interactive sculpture by Clare Davenhall (WA), many of the sculptures on the beach were interactive, which is just as well because there was a lot of interaction going on :) 

I read somewhere that a clever piece of art should make you think, if you don't have to think it's more likely craft not art.. there was much pondering over this piece below titled 'the kiss' by Graham Hay (WA).. the artist 'considers our first 'smart' devices 3,500 years ago. What were they made from and used for'.. if you pull it in you will see it is both complicated and smart...

Couldn't possibly go past this quintessential, or not, Australian piece by Tim Burns (WA) titled 'victory or revenge'.. 'the iconic land cruiser hit a roo and crashed through the tree. Now the trees take over'.. the Beagle in front looks kind of unimpressed :)

I'm going to end this series with a controversial piece by David Cerny (Czech Republic) an artist known for his provocative sculptures, most notably his giant babies climbing the Zizkov television tower. I remember the three babies here last year on Bondi Beach in Sculpture by the Sea Sydney, wasn't sure about it then and the jury's still out.. there's one thing for certain it sure had people talking which means it definitely wasn't craft :) If I get back before the event ends this weekend, I might try and catch a few specific sunset shots for you. Back to what else is going on around Perth tomorrow. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...

 

The fishing is excellent around Amok Island..

Perth was super lucky when Amok Island, leaving his hometown of Amsterdam to travel the world, arrived here in WA six years ago.. a lover of all things marine what better place to settle for a while and take in all that our incredible coastline has to offer, of course we benefit from this decision also :)  Amok Island's large scale sea creatures can be seen not only around the city but in outback towns also. Above in a Mt Lawley lane-way 'Cephalopholis Urodeta'.. below, fittingly commissioned by Kailis Bros. Leederville (fish market/cafe) on one wall Frog Fish 'Histrio Histrio' and on another 'Barracuda'. If you live in the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece or Japan just to name a few, you might have already seen an Amok Island, I think you would remember it!  Hope your week has started well, happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. Bills Diving has a new post!

Click here to see more murals from around the world..

Thunderbirds are go!

We're getting to the pointy end of 'climatic tolerance' :) here in Perth where it's officially autumn but the weather gods aren't keeping up with the program.. 25C doesn't seem all that hot but with humidity at 85%  it's uncomfortable! Check out our week ahead and you'll see the 'h' level is well over 50% for most of the week..  j'aime pas! The stylish couple above are making the most of the sunshine cruising down the West Coast Highway in their vintage pink Thunderbird.. anyone know the year? So weird to see the driver on the wrong side of the vehicle :) Hope you had/are still having a good weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe... p.s. yes I did use a bit of Lomo-ish on these pics!

Reflections in glass...

Beach scene reflected in a superb untitled work by Toshio Iezumi (Japan).. created by 'laminating sheets of glass into a bloc and carving and polishing it with stone carving tools'. A wonderful piece of ever changing sculpture depending from where you view it. I'm hoping to return to Cottesloe and take a few 'sun going down' shots, imagine this beauty bathed in warm orange/reds oh la! Looking back over my photos there does seem to be a recurring feature.. bronzed shirtless men, unintentional believe me :) Hope you have a happy weekend, take care and stay safe...

 Visit James to see more Weekend Reflections

Sculpture by the Sea, The Big Picture..

Thought I might take a break from individual sculptures today and show a wider view of Sculpture by the Sea. Cottesloe Beach is one of Perth's prettiest beaches.. the Indiana tearooms giving a very colonial touch to the scene. I took these shots at 7.30 in the morning the light was perfect. Best time for an event like this, or sunset.

This one made me smile, talk about life imitating art.. the new observation platforms, to the left of 'mr melancholy' below almost look like they could be part of the event :)

Below the vibrant piece 'embrace' by Haruyuki Uchida (Japan).. the artist aims to 'create sculptures that are closely connected to gravity'..

 

Even in this tres wide shot, look who's sitting big, pink and proud on the pier way over there :) Hope you enjoyed the bigger picture.. Must say I'm happy to see Friday.. it was a horrible Thursday!  Happy Friday, take care and stay safe...

Sculpture by the Sea 2015.. III

Sculpture by the Sea is fortunate to attract WA, Interstate and International artists.. artists such as Chen Wenling, one of China's leading contemporary sculptors. Chen's 'harbour' in painted bronze above is 'a celebratory call to embrace the inner child in every viewer', how can you not smile when you see that cheeky face :) and below Wang Shugang's (China) 'man on ball' which is actually five men in various poses squatting on balls that 'could roll away and the men run the risk of falling off the world, questioning ideas about the individual and the collective'.. 

'The ascetic' below by Naidee Changmoh (Thailand) in painted bronze is a delight don't you think! 'Inspired by the purity and happiness of children and based on cartoon forms to express positive thinking'..  j'adore! I was very happy to actually have a child right there in the shot :)

... and look who we have here! You might have spotted him up ahead on the pier in previous shots. I was très happy to see le huge pink bunny that WA artist Stormie Mills created for the Fringe festival in February.. this work 'is founded in the bunnyman character, the simplicity of fun and light that can interrupt someone's day and make it a little better', you have seen le grand lapin rose before here and here. As I said before, I hope he stays around town for a while to surprise and delight city-goers! What do you think.. are you happy to see more from this event? Let me know! Meanwhile have a safe Thursday, take care... p.s. having a home day all to myself, big catch up after watched recorded 'Downton Abbey', simple pleasures :)

Sculpture by the Sea 2015.. II

The 11th annual Sculpture by the Sea had so many wonderful entries this year.. 'mi no 5' above by Wendi Zhang (China) was exceptional. I'm not sure exactly how many flamingos, created in steel mesh there were but suffice to say they did indeed 'gather shape to present a beautiful scene, creating a harmonious ecological visual effect'! Below, constructed from thousands of tiny, hand made bricks 'vessel' by Andrew Burton (England). In the second shot Aimee and Amy taking different viewpoints and the third 'Penelope's web' by Kevin Draper (WA) 'based on an ancient symbol that relates to the mythological figure of Penelope  who wove the thread of destiny in the old world'.

The two below made me smile.. 'over under through around' by Peter Zappa (WA), don't you like my clever framing of the life buoy :).. and why when I saw 'mr melancholy' by Paul Stanwick-Wright (WA) made from a shipping container did I think of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh :)

I'll leave you today with this quirky piece by Annette Thas (WA) 'dame cockatoo and entourage' the work 'questions Australian identity, what we are told it should be,what it is and what we would like it to be' .. starring Aimee as Dame Cockatoo :) Hope you're enjoying the visit to the beach, more tomorrow. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. the expression 'art is in the eye of the beholder' was never more true at an event like this!