The Australian Sand Sculpting Championships made a triumphant return to Frankston foreshore this year with the theme of “The Villains of Storytime.” Artists created impressive sand sculptures depicting familiar villains from fairytales and Disney movies, including a big bad wolf, Ursula from The Little Mermaid, and a mythical siren.
Tasmanian artist Meg Murray took home the top prize for her sculpture, Screech of the Sea, which was praised for its “undeniable villainy” by the judges. The competition provided a unique opportunity for artists to showcase their skills under time constraints, with sculptures typically taking up to two weeks to perfect outside of competition conditions.
Visitors were captivated by the transformation of tonnes of builder’s block sand into intricate sculptures over the course of the event. The competition showcased a mix of experienced competitors, such as Yves Geradts, who depicted the witch from Snow White in his sculpture, and first-time competitor Josiah Brooks, who sculpted the Marvel Universe villain Thanos.
The standard of sculptures in Australia has risen significantly over the past decade, according to competitors. The event provides a fun and welcoming environment for artists of all ages, with the average age of competitors now exceeding 50. Despite the physical toll of long hours spent sculpting, competitors like Jino R van Bruinessen remain passionate about the art form and hope to see new talent join the ranks in future competitions.
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