The word Love appeared in the sky above Bondi Beach in a tribute to victims of the December terror attack, as Sculpture by the Sea returned to the coastline with artworks exploring remembrance, human connection and social division.
The skywriting, created by artist Stephanie Quirk, marked the exhibition’s opening on Friday, 16 October 2026. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the free event features 100 sculptures along the two-kilometre Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk and runs until 2 November.
Quirk’s temporary artwork acknowledges the 15 people killed in the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi on 14 December 2025. Rather than creating a permanent installation, she chose a single word that gradually disappeared as the writing dispersed across the sky.
The artist described Love as an expression of remembrance and belonging, bringing an intangible human emotion into public space. Organisers have scheduled the skywriting to return on the remaining Saturdays of the exhibition, weather permitting.
Two faces reflect a divided world
Among the coastal installations is Both Sides Now, a three-metre-tall mirrored steel sculpture by Bondi-based artist Paul Ewart. Inspired by Janus, the two-faced Roman god associated with beginnings and transitions, the work depicts two faces looking in opposite directions.
Weighing approximately 260 kilograms, the sculpture comprises nearly 400 mirror-polished steel facets. Its surfaces capture fragmented reflections of the ocean, sky and passing visitors, bringing different viewpoints into a shared image.
Ewart, a former journalist and television producer, created the work to explore increasing social polarisation and the difficulty of understanding opposing perspectives. Both faces belong to the same structure, yet neither can see what the other sees.
Conceived more than two years before the Bondi attack, the sculpture was not intended as a memorial. Ewart has since discussed its themes of empathy and division in the context of the tragedy and its effect on the local community.
Bondi artist extends exhibition indoors
Ewart, who regularly walks the Bondi to Tamarama coastal path, is also presenting a month-long residency and gallery takeover at QT Bondi.
The local venue is displaying his sculptures, ceramics and large-scale canvases, extending his exploration of identity and contrasting perspectives beyond the outdoor exhibition.
Both Sides Now is Ewart’s first major public sculpture, drawing on ideas previously explored through smaller works. He has credited Bondi’s coastal landscape, changing light and community with influencing his artistic practice.
Six-metre sculpture takes major prize
Central Tablelands artist Harrie Fasher has received the $70,000 Aqualand Sculpture Award for Unveiling the Edges of the Sky, a six-metre-tall, five-metre-long work constructed from steel and bronze.
Handmade at her foundry in Portland, NSW, the sculpture draws inspiration from Ganesh, the Hindu deity associated with overcoming obstacles. Its combination of figurative and abstract forms marks Fasher’s sixth appearance at the Bondi exhibition.
Fasher dedicated the award to women artists and those involved in bringing the exhibition to life, recognising the collaborative effort behind her sculpture.
Exhibition brings art to the coastline
More than 450,000 visitors are expected over the exhibition’s 18 days, with works by artists from 14 countries, including 30 participants exhibiting at Bondi for the first time.
The outdoor exhibition is free, with additional bus services operating during the event. Temporary road closures and parking restrictions apply around Bondi, particularly during busy weekends, while Transport for NSW recommends weekday visits for those wishing to avoid the largest crowds.
Residents can explore the sculptures until Monday, 2 November, with exhibition information and transport arrangements available through the official event and public transport websites.
Published 20-Oct-2026
