SCULPTURE BY THE SEA WINNER UNVEILED AT THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, SYDNEY

The winning entrant in the Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2012 exhibition, is now on display at the Domain in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Barrel Roll by American artist Peter Lundberg, is now an integral part of the Domain and Royal Botanic Garden’s already impressive sculpture collection, which adds to an historic collection dating back to the 1870s.

Environment Minister Robyn Parker said, “The famous Bondi exhibition attracted American artist Peter Lundberg to Australia and it is our local surrounds, people, environment and his personal experience gained here that inspired this striking piece.”

“The work is set off beautifully by a backdrop of the Garden, Harbour Bridge and Opera House.”

Barrell Roll will be the fourth Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi winner on display at the Domain and Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Sculptures previously installed include:

2012 – Barrel Roll by Peter Lundberg
2011 – Paradiegma metaphysic by Paul Selwood
2010 – Mirroring 1995 by Keld Moseholm
2009 – Time and Tide Granite Monolith II by May Barrie

Ms Parker urged families and tourists to visit the Domain and Royal Botanic Garden to take in its existing 57-piece sculpture collection that has been enhanced by the four eclectic Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi winners.

“It was serendipitous for the artist who named Barrel Roll before he created it - as part of the conditions of entry - to have drawn from an experience surfing at Whale Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches to craft his work,” Ms Parker said.

“Peter later found out to his surprise that ‘barrel roll’ is actually an Australian surfing term used to describe a type of wave.”

In December 2010, the Balnaves Foundation that funds the prize for the winner of the Bondi exhibition, agreed with the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust (the Trust) to annually donate the winning sculpture to the Trust, starting with the 2009 work by May Barrie.

Each winning sculpture from Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi will be appropriately placed within the Garden or Domain.

After a 10 year residency beside the harbour, some works will be moved to the sculpture collections at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah.

Chairman of the Balnaves Foundation, Neil Balnaves, said Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi has become one of the most popular events on Sydney’s art calendar.

“Over a two week period each year nearly 500,000 people walk the cliffs between Bondi and Tamarama to enjoy the sculptures,” Mr Balnaves said.

“We were excited by the idea of taking the winners from each exhibition and placing them in one location where the public could enjoy them all year round. The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney is the perfect location.”