Sculpture by the Sea recently concluded its Bondi to Tamarama Beach coastal walk, which was held from October 20 to November 6 in Sydney, Australia. The internationally acclaimed event transforms the coastal walk into the world’s largest free public sculpture exhibition — featuring more than 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world. The breathtaking works presented celebrate the beauty of nature and the human spirit.
Among the multitude of sculptures present at the event, several showcased aluminum as a key element of their design. Capral Aluminium, the largest extruder and distributor of aluminum in Australia, supported several of these projects by producing the material for the sculptural works.
Aluminum is a versatile material and its unique properties make it an ideal choice for public art and sculpture. Due to its light weight, it can be implemented in intricate and delicate designs, while its strength ensures longevity and durability. Aluminum is more corrosion resistant than other metals, making making it suitable for outdoor installations. Additionally, aluminum is highly malleable, enabling sculptors to bend and shape it to their desired forms. These properties provide artists with a medium that allows them to experiment with various shapes, sizes, and textures — allowing them to bring their visions to life and push the boundaries of traditional sculpture.
Working with Aluminium often requires advanced manufacturing techniques to ensure optimal results. Capral supported artists creating works for Sculpture by The Sea by providing aluminum that was pre machined, punched, cut, or bent according to their artistic vision. The lightweight nature of the aluminum made it easier for the artists to handle the material during these processes, allowing for greater precision and control.
One of the key sculptures to look out for is 2023 is “No Colour in War” by Emryn Ingram-Shute from New South Wales (sculpture pictured at the top of this post). According to the artist, the installation seeks to connect with the tragedy of the Ukrainian invasion through the deconstruction of anti-tank obstaclesm called Czech hedgehogs. Emryn originally used steel to construct her Sculpture but faced fabrication challenges with the material and re-created her work using aluminum.
Another notable sculpture is “From the Outside Looking In” by Noah Birch from Western Australia. This work incorporates four visually distinct aluminum-panel elements of underlying equality. While each one is interlinked, they are composed to stress their interdependence — finding balance and poise to create a complete visual.
To achieve certain desired textures and finishes, artists may also experiment with surface treatments, such as sanding, polishing, and anodizing. Andrew Braun from New South Wales used a combination of painted finishes to enhance the visual appeal of his work, “The Rise of Social Media,” adding depth and dimension to the artwork. Influenced by his own architectural and photography skills, Braun’s work explores society’s obsession with touchscreen devices and humanity’s growing addiction to digital technology.
Another great aluminum-intensive sculptural work comes from Tim Macfarlane Reid, a well known sculptor from Western Australia. His work “Mantle” is an exploration of unseen forces beneath the earth’s surface. Slowly, undulating physical forces move and shift, impacting the landscape we experience.
Capral Aluminium noted that its partnership with Sculpture by the Sea is a testament to the commitment of both organizations in promoting innovation and creativity in the arts. The company’s support enables artists to explore new possibilities using aluminum as a core material, while Sculpture by the Sea provides a prestigious platform for these artworks to be showcased and appreciated by a global audience.