Australia: Pause and effect at Sydney sand strip

Lucy Humphrey's Horizon at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi. Photo / Clyde Yee

Sculptures strung like pearls around Bondi are fascinating, writes Catherine Smith.

David Handley is tireless. You'd think that the day of the opening-night prize-giving for one of the world's biggest free art exhibitions, Sydney's Sculpture by the Sea, the founder/director would be too busy to talk to a bunch of journalists, let alone walk them around his baby for two hours.

But the enthusiastic man dons his dapper hat, and practically runs us around that spectacular clifftop between famed Bondi Beach and the pretty cove of Tamarama, 2km away.

The curatorial panel invited 100 artists (from 580 applications) in May; the installation crew are still marching around with tools. They have spent months negotiating with the artists and figuring out the handling logistics, but then have only a week to load in giant, fragile and awkward-shaped pieces.

Some 100 temporary staff and interns are taking care of the schools' programming, hosting and guiding, photography, PR. So David has made time to show us his favourite pieces, chat to crew, introduce us to artists - and point out the pod of dolphins swimming past.

Since David launched the event from his living room in 1997, it has spread west (Cottlesloe, Perth started in 2005) and globally (Aarhus, Denmark, 2009); the artist prize pool has grown from $8550 to scholarships, acquisition budgets and prizes worth close to $300,000.

He rattles off his story as we march around the cliffs, pausing so we can delve into a piece and take hundreds of photos.

David McCracken's staircase-like 'diminish and ascendis'.

One of my walking fellows is internationally acclaimed travel instagrammer Lauren Bath (370,000 followers and growing). David was inspired to create the visual arts equivalent of the popular outdoor symphonies and operas by a visit to a sculpture park in northern Bohemia. His creative mind translated the idea from 13th century ruins to the spectacular seaside setting, his first show mounted with help from an enthusiastic local council.

Today, some 500,000 visitors walk the cliffs, artists compete for places and corporates vie for sponsorship.

Our own Sir James Wallace selects a New Zealand winner for the $7000 Wallace Arts Trust award. This year, Chris Bailey will be bringing his piece inspired by 4500-year-old Aboriginal stone blades found on Bondi Beach.

Despite the bustle and crowds, it is surprising how quickly you immerse yourself in contemplation. Sydney's sandstone creates natural plinths (some pieces are juxtaposed with ancient aboriginal carvings, a shiver-inducing moment), other pieces vie for attention on Tamarama's white beach or on the grass of the headland park.

Last year's Wallace winner, David McCracken's staircase-like diminish and ascendis is a compelling perspective illusion of stairs, hovering over nothing.

Chris Bailey will be bringing his piece, which was inspired by 4500-year-old Aboriginal stone blades found on Bondi Beach. Photo / NZ Herald

Mia Hamilton's french knitting hanging from trees is familiar from earlier Auckland outdoor shows, while Bev Goodwin's leis of Polyrock layer perfectly on the rocks.

There are spoken works, video, flags; even the mini pavilions are worth a pause: clever urban design by student designers.

Leave the shopping and the surfing behind for the day, head to Bondi Beach for an early summer treat.

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi Beach 2014
October 23 to November 9. Free entry.

Walk the spectacular 2km from Bondi to Tamarama, transformed into a park of more than 100 sculptures. There are free, guided, tactile tours, artist talks and the Sculpture Inside shop. At weekends, free shuttles (with baby and booster seats) stop at Notts Ave, Bondi and Tamarama Beach. The Sculpture by the Sea website has public transport information.

Stay: At retro-modern Adina Apartment Hotel, part of Bondi Beach's gentrification; above a cool new restaurant strip.

Eat: At Bondi Hardware, a converted hardware store, perfect for the industrial chic look. Sliders, natch. The Bucket List in Bondi Pavilion is right on the beach, or sign into iconic Icebergs above the baths.