A Free Outdoor Japanese Sculpture Exhibition Is Taking Over The Rocks This Autumn

A sibling event to 'Sculpture by the Sea', it'll display 18 works from 14 Japanese artists.
Sarah Ward
April 22, 2021

Sculpture by the Sea didn't grace the Bondi-Tamarama coastal walk last year, and isn't set to until October this year. But if you're eager to go for a wander, check out large-scale pieces of art and enjoy the great outdoors, you can head to The Rocks this May and June for a new free exhibition called Sculpture Rocks.

Set to display from Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, June 3, Sculpture Rocks will feature 18 works from 14 sculptors, with Japanese artists in the spotlight. You'll be peering at pieces by Keizo Ushio, Takeshi Tanabe, Mitsuo Takeuchi, Ayako Saito and Akira Kamada, among others — and from artists who currently hail from both Japan and Australia.

As for what you'll be seeing, expect plenty of stone. "Each of these artworks in thought and practice stems directly from the ancient rock gardens of Japan," explains Sculpture by the Sea Founding Director David Handley. As well as linking in with Japanese cultural traditions, the exhibition will also feature "kinetic and abstract sculptures to provide a cross section of Japanese sculpture today," Handley advises.

Hiroyuki Kita, aguidepostforthewind (2010)

Presented by the Sculpture by the Sea team alongside Place Management NSW and the Port Authority of NSW, the exhibition will ape one of the most stunning — and most popular — things about its sibling event, too: the waterside view. You'll be moseying along the Sydney Harbour foreshore area, including between the Overseas Passenger Terminal, along Campbells Cove and up to Hickson Reserve next to the Park Hyatt Hotel.

Basically, think of it as a smaller version, in a similarly striking spot, and with a specific focus. A smaller indoor exhibition, called Sculpture Inside Rocks, will also take place at the same time at Campbell's Stores.

Sculpture Rocks will display from Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, June 3 at various locations around The Rocks. Head to the exhibition website for further details.

Published on April 22, 2021 by Sarah Ward
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