20 YEARS OF SWELL SCULPTURE FESTIVAL

Back in 2003 locals and visitors enjoyed 20 sculptures along the Currumbin Beach – two decades later, the 1km stretch of Currumbin Beach is host to the state’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition attracting over 150 artists – from grassroots to world-renowned.

SWELL Sculpture Festival marks its 20th anniversary with a list of exciting new events including a new beachside SWELL Fringe Festival happening alongside the main sculpture exhibition on Currumbin Beach, SWELL by Night, Living Sculpture performances, pop up indoor SWELL Smalls Gallery, and the well-loved SWELL Kids area.

Superegg by Jaco Roeloffs

This year the outdoor sculpture exhibition, which sees more than 70 large scale contemporary sculptures transform the beautiful stretch of Currumbin Beach, takes place September 9-18.

SWELL Sculpture Festival artistic director and founder Natasha Edwards says, “the exhibition has grown and is recognised as one of Australia’s major arts events – supporting and launching the careers of hundreds of now world-renowned artists and continuing to nurture our grassroots emerging Artists”.

“SWELL’s legacy for advocating and supporting the arts on the Gold Coast, connecting People Art and Place is something we are all very proud of,” says Edwards.

The Guardian by artist Mike Van Dam

“Twenty years ago, our vision for Getting Art Out There, pushing the boundaries, advocating how important it is to support the arts, how vital it is for shaping our City and to support public art and outdoor exhibitions. Artists and communities play a vital role in building social cohesion, connecting People Art and Place is our vision and we love to exhibit Artists sculptures to share their stories to visitors to the outdoor sculpture exhibition.  The joy people get when they visit SWELL is incredible, being able to immerse themselves and experience art in our outdoor gallery”

Damien Hirst Looking for Sharks by Danger Dave

“Many Artists we see today are the next generation SWELL. They have had the incredible opportunity to grow up surrounded by Art in the natural setting and draw inspiration from the festival – the Arts has played a big part in their life.”

“It’s extraordinary to see them now participating in the festival and emerging with fresh and creative installations inspired by other Artists and what they have experienced on this beach.”

“It is all about connecting people, art and place with thought-provoking public art.”

Mermaid by Mote Lupo

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Over the years, SWELL has seen some of the finest works of art. Seven of the most memorable sculptures over the past years include:

• The Guardian by artist Mike Van Dam | Four-meter stainless-steel chain-link sculpture, borne out of COVID-19 and the idea that everyone needs someone to look after us in the face of uncertainty. Now permanently installed on a private property on the Gold Coast.
• Damien Hirst Looking for Sharks by Danger Dave | Larger than life inflatable head, with a fun reference to Damien Hirst’s iconic piece.
• The Sentinels by Mari Hirata | Blue-green iridescent air-conditioning ducts twisted and pulled to position on Elephant Rock.

The Sentinels by Mari Hirata

• Superegg by Jaco Roeloffs | Colourful 500kg egg shaped installation created from 3000 used Nespresso coffee pods.
• Totem by Ivan Lovatt | A giant chicken wire model of local Indigenous artist Luther Cora. Now permanently at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Totem by Ivan Lovatt

• Mermaid by Mote Lupo | Eye pleasing sleeping mermaid in the sand created over four months with more than 4000 tiles, by artists from Monte Lupo as a part of Multicap in Eight Mile Plains.
• The Scavenger by Christopher Trotter | An iconic 1940s crane truck, largely from scrap metal salvaged from the sea. Christopher has exhibited in SWELL for 20 years.

The Scavenger by Christopher Trotter
Discover more about SWELL festival at swellsculpture.com.au