Love U Created by Jason Hirst for Sculpture by the Sea

Walyalup Fremantle based artist Jason Hirst talked with Madeleine Cox about his journey to create Love U which features in this year’s Sculpture by the Sea. If love is all U need, don’t miss it.

The incandescent yet soft kaleidoscopic colours entice the Sculpture-by-the-Sea-goer into this heart-lifting work by Jason Hirst and his public art design company, Little Rhino Designs.

At first approach, ‘Love U’ is the most delightful and whimsical expression of love, and is well-named. Not ‘Love You’ but ‘Love U’. ‘Love U’ at North Walyalup beach in the 21^st year of Sculpture by the Sea evokes a playful and fun form of love. A reminder perhaps, of your very first love, or even long forgotten secret and unrequited loves from your school days, when you might have written anonymous love notes on the back of the door in the toilets. For the artist Jason Hirst, ‘Love U’ was first conceived in the heady days of embarking on new love, and the sculpture transports him back in time to this moment.

Jason also told the story of the eighty-year-old woman he met who remembered the pastel coloured love-heart lollies known as ‘Swizzel’s Love Hearts’. Boys she might have liked once gave her these sweets when attending the movies together or was it perhaps that they happened to be in the cinema at the same time? In modern times, parents put these lollies in their children’s lunch boxes. The lollies were and are secret code, a way to connect people beyond language and place.

These are just some of the many inspirations for the sculpture ‘Love U’. Older Sculpture-by-the-Sea goers may even be prompted by the work to remember love found at the Lido Picture Gardens and Cabaret which is now the popular Italian dining institution Il Lido. Before colonisation, Noongar people knew North Walyalup beach as Mudurup, a word which simply meant ‘place of the yellow-finned whiting’. Mudurup then was a significant ceremonial site frequented during mid to late summer, Birak (Dec-Jan) and Burnuru (Feb- Mar).

Just as ‘Love U’ connects people visually, the work makes other connections too: with words, colour, place and time to name a few. It is about first love and the other forms of love a person might come to know in their life. Even the unconditional love a parent has for their children.

The art work ‘Love U’ is one of the few interactive sculptures at Sculpture by the Sea 2026. This is one of the reasons humans across generations take delight in engaging with the work. It is no doubt why the sculpture was accepted by the Sculpture by the Sea Curatorial Panel. Indeed, Jason was told by the organisers, ‘We love it’.

If you are lucky with your timing, you can add your own perspective on love to all the other words already inscribed on ‘Love U’ in pastel coloured Posca pens. Japanese paint maker Posca has amazingly donated the pens for Sculpture-by-the-Sea-goers to use. Do note that whilst love can be unconditional, there are not unlimited Posca pen colours to select from. The artist designed a soft colour theory around the base colours of the origami paper-chain hearts and the pen colours which together form the work. Jason wanted to ensure that nothing was ‘overwhelming’.

The idea to create an interactive work came early to Jason in the design process. After imagining the paper chain of hearts, he asked himself what if you could write on it?  The layers of soft pastels which are slowly being added each day help diffuse the stronger background colours of the sculpture, and add more depth to the work, a little like the patina metal develops with wear and use. Over time, ‘Love U’ iteratively shines more brightly.

‘Love U’ is ultimately an outward expression of love. From the artist to the world. From each child, young person and adult who interacts with ‘Love U’. This artwork forms connections; across peoples, generations, time and place.

If only for love, isn’t it great Sculpture by the Sea is back? ‘Love U’ was initially conceived and accepted for the 2025 exhibition which did not go ahead due to funding constraints. Jason was still able to create ‘Love U’ with generous support from Bibra Lake based aluminium fabricator Capral who is also one of the supporting partners of Sculpture by the Sea. Thanks to the support of the Federal Government, the WA Government and many diverse sponsors, visitors to Cottesloe Beach Murdurup are able to take in ‘Love U’ and all the other sculptures featured in this year’s Sculpture by the Sea.

Sculpture by the Sea is on for just one more week. Do go see it and make sure you vote for your favourite sculpture.

By Madeleine Cox

* Madeleine Cox was raised on a farm on Bindjareb Noongar country and now, together with her New Zealand/Aotearoa husband, lives with their children in Fremantle/Walyalup. She loves exploring places and ideas, and connecting with people and nature. This has compelled Madeleine to start writing independently, after many years work as a corporate and government lawyer, and service on not-for-profit boards in the health and education sectors.

~ For more articles by Madeleine Cox on FSN, look here.

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