Proudly supporting Sculpture at Bathers 2020

Artwork by Tania Spencer at Sculpture at Bathers 2017

Fremantle Ports is proud to announce it will be supporting the creation of a large-scale artwork for the Sculpture at Bathers 2020 exhibition ‑ and the public can participate!

The installation on the shoreline at Bathers Beach will be a seawall made with hessian sandbags forming a 20-metre diameter circle which will interact with the tides.

The ephemeral work, conceptualised by artist Bruce Abbott, reflects environmental themes relating to climate change and sea-level rise.

Performances associated with the work will reference land-based ritual practice with opening and closing ceremonies curated by Noongar Minang William Hayward.

Community participation in the formation of the installation will involve filling sandbags and contributing to the physical construction of the seawall over the course of the exhibition, deconstructing the seawall after the final closing ceremony, and leaving no trace other than an enduring record of the event via time-lapse video.

The community will also be invited to participate in the ceremonial aspects of the work.

The concept has been developed by Sculpture at Bathers in consultation with the City of Fremantle and the Department of Transport.

The biennial Sculpture at Bathers exhibition will return to Fremantle’s Bathers Beach Arts Precinct from 15 February to 2 March 2020.

In a unique survey of contemporary Western Australian sculpture, the exhibition will present the works of 100 established and emerging artists.

Artworks will be on Bathers Beach (above), in the ocean, along the paths around the Roundhouse, inside Kidogo Arthouse, and on the timber boardwalks and surrounding grassed areas.

Other planned highlights include the return of the popular Kelp Bar, run by Kidogo Arthouse, the return of DADAA access tours for people with disabilities and their carers, and the ongoing development of an education program.

More information at the Sculpture at Bathers website here.