Coffs sculpture ‘The Visitor’ bound for Swell Festival on Gold Coast

A trio of Coffs Harbour sculptors are thrilled to be sending their larger than life flying fish creation up to Queensland’s biggest sculpture festival on the colourful Gold Coast.

Mark George, John Vanderkolk and Jeremy Sheehan.

A trio of Coffs sculptors have taught themselves new skills while crafting a massive steel and aluminium entry to be entered in this year’s Swell Sculpture Festival on the Gold Coast.

Mark George, John Vanderkolk and Jeremy Sheehan from Coffs Harbour have been polishing up their eye-catching work before sending it over the border for the popular annual beachside exhibition held for a week from September 6.

Mr Sheehan said: “We created our own challenges while working on this piece, including learning to use a laser cutter to create the pieces and patterns — a new skill and technology for us.”

The sculpture which will appear at Swell Sculpture Festival on the Gold Coast.

“Transporting the sculpture also presented its own set of challenges,” he said.

The work dubbed The Visitor is a representation of a real-life flying fish which stands at almost three metres tall and is just as wide, propped on a dramatic arch with the fish swooping into the air.

The three sculptors said their work was inspired by adventure and a connection with the inner child – emphasising the importance of not getting too caught up in the chaos of everyday life.

Swell Sculpture Festival exhibits are shown at various locations on the Gold Coast, including Currumbin.

“It highlights the significance of being playful and regaining a perspective of wonder and possibility,” Mr George said.

And it’s not the trio’s first rodeo at Queensland’s largest outdoor art event.

They have attended and produced work for the past few Swell festivals.

“This piece builds upon our previous works and draws inspiration from each one,” Mr Vanderkolk said.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]

Originally published as Coffs sculpture ‘The Visitor’ bound for Swell Festival on Gold Coast