Highlights of this year's Scuplture by the Sea exhibition at Perth's Cottesloe Beach, including a couple of cafes where you can sit back and enjoy the action and the stunning ocean views.
Six-thirty am is rush hour at Perth’s beautiful Cottesloe Beach: locals rub the sleep from their eyes, kick off their thongs and descend onto the sand towards the glimmering Indian Ocean for their wake up dip. The usual props are beach towels and seagulls, but from now until March 24 there are a number of other obstacles in the way: a giant steel plug, an oversized wrist watch, emus made from recycled tyres and a three-metre pencil drawing a line in the sand.
All are part of the international outdoor Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, now in its fifth year and open for an extra week to celebrate the anniversary. Not everything is made to huge proportions, but the bulk of the works are designed to engage the beachcomber in some way. A glass-like sphere floats in the ocean, encouraging swimmers to play with it. Steel ants creep up a Norfolk pine and out onto one of its limbs, creating a mix of laughs and awe. A metal plug sitting on the sand raises questions about water use. Colourful lifesaver lollies pay homage to Australia’s beach patrol and popular eye-candy.
With 60 sculptures created by local and international artists, there’s a lot to see, so stopping in one of the nearby cafes to sit and gaze is your best bet. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Indiana
91 Marine Parade.
+61 8 9385 5005.
Indiana's classy tea rooms peer over the ocean towards Rottnest Island, taking in a 180-degree view of the "sculptured" beach. Filled with the well-heeled and boasting a refined menu rich in seafood, it’s easy to while away the hours here.
Website
Il Lido
88 Marine Parade.
+61 8 9286 1111.
The new kid on the block is creating waves in the foodie scene with its communal tables and inventive tapas selection. Only a year old, ocean-facing Il Lido boasts a more relaxed atmosphere that appeals to the shorts and bathers set, who also appreciate quality tucker. A secret weapon is a waiter named Charlie who is also a professional opera singer – he breaks into song at almost any opportunity.
The Cottesloe 2009 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition runs from March 5-24 2009
Website