The Amazing 2024 Sculpture by the Sea

Thousands, including your reporter, flocked to Cottesloe Beach last Sunday afternoon for sand, sun and sculptures.

Families picnicked in the shade and posed for photos at the sculptures on the grassy slopes, and on the beach and groyne. Others swam and sunbaked. Kids made their own sand sculptures.

In the distance, towards Fremantle, NYK Aphrodite, a huge vehicle carrier or RO-RO, dominated the skyline. The amazing ships that visit our port everyday create their own type of figurative marine and maritime art with their different shapes and colours, not to mention their names! If you’re wondering, Aphrodite left Freo’s inner harbour at 4.30pm Sunday on her voyage to Singapore.

Sculptures by the Sea returned to Cottesloe beach on Friday, 1 March and is in full swing until 18 March.

It’s fabulous anytime of day – early morning in the soft light before the crowds or at sunset when everything is bathed in magic light.

This is one of Australia’s largest free public events, attracting 250,000 local and interstate visitors each year.

This year, Sculpture features over 70 artists from 15 countries, with many Walyalup/Freo artists among them. Almost half of the exhibitors are from WA.

Here are some of my favourites.

Dave by COADY

Dave is a reference to Michelangelo’s famed, marble David.

Dave is a baby-boomer who has let himself go a bit. He stands on the groyne in a unicorn floatation ring.

COADY is from Victoria.

Gumnut Cap Quintet by Tania Spencer.

This beautiful sculpture is suspended between the trees.

Tania is a WA artist amd this is her 10th exhibited work over the years.

Seated Man by Sean Henry

People are queuing up to get their picture with this amazing sculpture of a pensive sitting man by UK sculpture Sean Henry.

Lifeblood by Johannes Pannekoek

Johannes is a Perth sculptor who has previously won the Hancock Prospecting and Roy Hill Sculpture Award, amd is the winner of Sculpture on the Sea this year. Congrats!

You’ll spot his winding sculpture behind all the happy folk and the blue umbrella!

So, head on down to Cottesloe Beach to see this year’s Sculpture and while you’re there have a dip inside the shark net, or just pack a picnic and watch the sun go down over the sculptures. But whatever you do, don’t miss this fantastic and free exhibition!

* STORY by Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey. Jean is our Shipping Correspondent and also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

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