Five Alive

Follow, follow the sun
And which way the wind blows
When this day is done

Breath, breath in the air
Set your intentions
Dream with care

Tomorrow is a new day for everyone

A brand new moon, brand new sun

Xavier Rudd. Follow the Sun

I decided that five is my lucky number. Five children. Five decades (and a bit). Birthday on the fifth. And five times here in Bondi to visit the Sculptures by the Sea.

What started in my first year here in Australia as a birthday weekend treat, has become an annual ritual for me: seeing the sculptures by the sea! Every year I treat myself to an overnight stay at the infamous Bondi Beach. Pretend I am a tourist (which I kind of am). Get a good night’s sleep, only to get up early in the morning to walk along the Bondi coastline from Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach.

Along the way I take my time to take in the beautiful scenery in the morning light, admire the different pieces of art, take photos (lots of photos) and am simply happy to be alive.

And so this year isn’t any different. I endured the two-hour bus ride to get to Bondi. Fought off very aggressive seagulls at the beach who had invited themselves to my fish’n chips dinner. Watched the storm clouds roll in and lightening lite up the night sky over Bondi Beach. Only to wake up to a beautiful Saturday semi-sunrise at the beach. Ready for take off.

Walking along the Coastal Path early in the morning has a few advantages. First of all, it is my favourite time of the day. I love watching the sunrise no matter where I am. Second, there are no crowds – yet. This morning I met a woman from Slovakia and we had a short discussion about the cuts in funding for this amazing event. The occasional jogger ran by. But otherwise I had the path along the coast to myself. And finally, by the time the crowds start pouring in, I am done with my walk. Ready for a coffee and avo on toast. My perfect first date with myself.

So here are my top five of 2025. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

“Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more” (Macbeth). This sculpture spoke to me for obvious reasons. An idiot.. hat, glasses and a brush. The absurdity belies the anguish of an artist, anf the anguish in us all.* It’s also how I feel like a lot these days…

Lily, named after a pioneering open-water swimmer, reflects determination and vitality that challenges expectations. Capturing grace and resilience, she symbolises the courage to embrace possibility, inspiring empowerment and the freedom to dive into life. Though still very far off from being an open-water swimmer myself, I loved this lady in a bathing suit, swim cap and all.

Unseen challenges societal norms in capturing the beauty and strength of overlooked women aged 50 and beyond. Story of my life. Five alive!

Not sure what the title of this one was but it reminded me of my middle son who used to make wire trees like these in high school. It also soke to me as a symbol for putting down invisible roots. And then it made me think of this bonsai tree that my dad once had. I wonder what happened to it.

My favourite sculpture this year – For Peace by Ayad Alqaragholli, WA/Iraq. For me, it was the armchair that attracted me. Pulled me in. And I literally wanted to si down and rest In Peace. Reading up on this piece in the brochure, it is interesting how the same piece of art can have such different meaning to each of us. It is the raven this sculpture focuses on, symbolising worthy of recognition and grace. The chair represents the place of human dwelling, a universal symbol of where life is lived.

Five is my lucky number. And with my fifth year here in Sydney, it makes me think quite a bit about where my life is lived. Has been lived. Will be lived.

The other day, someone told me that if I managed to carry the beauty of the sunrise by the sea inside of me, maybe it wouldn’t really matter anymore where life is lived. Perhaps they are right. For now, I’m happy to make this annual pilgrimage to soak in the art and ocean air. To celebrate another year around the sun in this beautiful place I now call home.

“Around and around the wide Earth turns… a sleepy dancer” (Sculpture Is… Richard Tipping)

See you next year, Sculptures by the Sea!