Another year at the largest sculpture exhibition in the world.
Some things stay the same: the heat, the crowds, the little fat men (from Danish artist Keld Moseholm), and the same sort of things that just stick upwards.
Different this year: many more pieces that were obviously made from "found" or recycled (rather: re-used) materials. Some of those works had a cheap feel to them (lots of plastics, some of them clearly not post-consumer waste). Some, like Subodh Kerkar's Chicken Cafreal, had so much structural integrity that it was not obvious what it was made of.
For me, the clear standout was a staircase to infinity by New Zealander David McCracken. My eyes were constantly drawn to it; I've not been so attracted to a Sculptures work for a few years. My 11-year-old son felt the same, but interestingly my 12-year-old daughter wasn't moved: "What's so special about it?"
On the other hand, we all agreed we loved the crows - Mikaela Castledine's East of the mulberry tree - the legend of the ten red crows. Such rich colours.
Sculptures by the Sea is on until November 10.
