Scultpures by the Sea 2024 is through its first week and comes bearing a payload of exceptional works. 100 artists from 16 different countries have their work on display.

The sculptures stretch from the coastal track near the Icebergs club at South Bondi through to Tamarama Beach.

Two of the sculptures on the sand of Tamarama beach have the unexpected theme of skin cancer. One is made of black fabric which changes shape to resemble a cancer and three pieces of toast draw further attention to the risks of sun exposure.

Another sculpture that will appeal to beach lovers is a shark emerging from a peeled banana skin. The shark appears to be a great white with a wide-open mouth. You can’t help but have a second look.

An amazing contrast! Banana gives birth to shark?

Local surfers with any anxiety towards sea life that bites are advised to ignore this one.  Nothing like seeing a shark to raise confidence as you head out to the surf.

A white spaceman by the artist known as Malarky is perched on the cliff above Tamarama Beach. The statement behind the work is that our species failure to care for the earth makes it destined to return to nomadity.

King Kong makes an appearance courtesy of the artist Denis Defrancesco.

This large reclining fellow was a crowd favourite with his golden balls providing an irresistible photo opportunity. One spectator put her dog just near the two lumps and took photos from all angles!

That’s gold!

Moving onto another metal, stainless steel, a rocket ship has captured one of the most sort after positions on the sculptures circuit. It is just over 8 metres tall.

The second last photo is of a sculpture comprised of granite and rock created by Professor Shen Lieyi. In a highly competitive field this work was judged the winner of the Aqualand Sculpture Award of $100 000.

Sculptures by the Sea is a fine outing and the entry price is zero. Try to avoid the weekend if possible or get there early or late.

On the walk back to our chariot we had the pleasure of passing a wonderful art deco house painted in sky blue. Last photo below - congratulations to the owners.

dont bring this beast back from the beach

sun bakers beware, not much fun being toast

get this banana off me

Big boots to fill

King Kong meets local mut

stainless and ready to rocket

winner of the big bucks, work titled, Tracing

art deco beauty

ONE BARANGAROO

Pecking order

One Barangaroo is Sydney’s tallest skyscraper (275 metres).

The Sydney Eye Tower is in fact greater in height (310 metres) but is not a skyscraper.

Although One Barangaroo is Sydney’s largest skyscaper it is only the 4th tallest skyscaper in Australia. The largest is located on the Gold Coast, and positions 2 & 3 are held by buildings in Melbourne.

What’s in it

One Barangaroo is a 75 level mixed use venue containing a luxury resort with 349 hotel rooms and suites, 76 luxury residential apartments, retail shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and a casino.

Design concept

One Barangaroo was designed by a firm of Brittish architects, WilkinsonEyre, after winning an international design competition in 2013.

The brief was for a building that would create a landmark design of high quality, which would reflect Sydney’s vibrancy, relationship with water and its role as an international city.

Wilkinson Eyre’s design narrative is based on the concept of three petals. Two petals twist towards the sky whilst the third petal peeled off to the side and provides the bulk of the hotel accommodation.

When I look at One Barangaroo the concept of petals does not really hit me.

If the different sections are comparable to petals they are indeed very long petals. It is only after looking at early sketches that the idea begins to make more sense.

Features

What I do like about the building is as much as what it is not as what it is. It is not your standard rectangular skyscraper and the architect has gone to great lengths to avoid right angles.

Instead there are many turns, twists and curves.

If you walk around the building from street level it is not an easy shape to take in or describe.

One Barangaroo is an imposing building and by not being capable of simple definition it keeps you observing and guessing.

The provision of many discrete balconies for the apartments and the fact that the building narrows as it reaches its peak are both attractive features.

Who doesn’t like balcony access to fresh air in a high rise apartment.

When you look up from ground level it is noticeable that the balconies are aligned to compliment the buildings spiraling curves.

By narrowing the building as it approaches its pinnacle One Barangaroo does not overwhelm the surrounding environment.

The progressive drop in height of the completed next door buildings (One Sydney Harbour and International Towers) works well when you see One Barangaroo in the setting of other buildings in Barangaroo South.

This feature is particularly noticeable from a vehicle driving south on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The buildings drop in a relatively sequential line to the east.

If you look at the building from the north west side the shape of the podium resembles the bow of a ship, (see photograph 5 below ).

The external glass provides for different reflections throughout the day depending upon the time and weather.

It can certainly sparkle in the afternoon when you look at it from the west as you drive into the city.

A visit to One Barangaroo is one of many places that are available to visit on Sydney Nimble’s Custom itinerary tour.

under construction 2019

a sleek finished product - other nearby buildings include One Sydney Harbour, International Towers and Barangaroo House

looking up from the front

sculpture in front of the hotel foyer

the bow of a boat?

the building sits above an expansive four level podium

curves, turns and twists

One Barangaroo in the distance with the soon to open Barangaroo metro station in the foreground

Annual event Sculpture by the Sea is a popular stop on several of our Sydney private tours. For three weeks from mid-October, the iconic coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama Beach transforms into a 2-kilometer long sculpture park - the world’s largest free public sculpture event - showcasing over 100 creations by Australian and international artists.

Sculpture by the Sea 2021 can be included in a Sydney Nimble Tours Custom Tour or it can form part of our full day tour of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

Here are a few of our favourite images from past Sculptures by the Sea