1 week ago
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They say life’s a beach, but whoever coined that phrase probably wasn’t looking at today’s economic and political landscape – or they had an incredible sense of humour. Much like the artists at this year’s Australian Sand Sculpting Championships, which returned to Frankston foreshore, just south of Melbourne, for the first time since 2019.
This year’s event had a playful take on our polarising times; its theme is “The Villains of Storytime”, and sculptors responded with giant sand-made depictions of familiar witches and wolves from fairytales and Disney movies. Looking around, visitors can see a big bad wolf, Ursula from The Little Mermaid and a mythical siren calling to unsuspecting sailors.
Tasmanian artist Meg Murray’s sand sculpture, Screech of the Sea, won this year’s singles category. Her sculpture gained points for its “undeniable villainy”, said judge Kylie Stillman, who, as part of a panel of judges, scored sand creations on originality, adherence to the theme and technical skill.
“The sand was used in a way that we all felt seemed almost impossible and very risky,” Stillman said.
The championships are a chance for artists to show off their skills at pace; where a sand sculpture might take up to two weeks to perfect outside competition conditions, artists are given just over two days to complete their creations in the championships.
Jim McCauley, who has competed in sand sculpting competitions around the world, said “it’s a meditative practice … You’re just present with the sand.”
Visitors seemed just as captivated. On opening weekend, many people stood by to watch artists transform tonnes of builder’s block sand into sculptures.
Yves Geradts, who won the top prize in 2019, called his creation Mirror Mirror, which depicted the witch from Snow White holding a poisoned apple. He was awarded third place.
The Australian event is relatively young compared with others overseas. Compared with international competitions, Australia’s event is more fun, Geradts said. “It’s a bit more cartoon-like, people want to recognise things.”
Gold Coast artist Jino R van Bruinessen, 72, was the oldest competitor this year. His sand sculpture was of Tengu, a supernatural demon or goblin in Japanese folklore.
The standard of sculptures in Australia has risen “significantly” over the past 10 years, he said, but – with the average age of competitors heading north of 50 – he would like to see some new blood try out the art form.
With a punishing schedule of up to 10 hours a day sculpting, will this competition be his last? “It’s very taxing on the body,” he said. “But ask me again after I’ve had some rest.”
Unlike beach sand, the bricklayer’s sand used by competitors is more compact and easier to sculpt. Single competitors start with a block of 10 tonnes of sand, and the doubles teams get 25 tonnes.
First time competitor Josiah “Jazza” Brooks, 35, entered this year with little prior experience. He sculpted Marvel Universe villain Thanos, who he described as “bombastic”. He wasn’t worried if his final sculpture did not match the standard of longtime sculptors; more importantly, the competition was a chance to work alongside experienced competitors and learn from them.
“There’s nothing to lose in giving it a go,” he said. “It’s easier than I thought and it’s easy to try.”
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Sculptures are on display at Frankston foreshore until 27 April
