Sand+Sculptures

Created by Hand: Sand Sculptures
Location of work: Brighton, United Kingdom Information gathered by: John Filkin, retired teacher

The sand sculptures you are about to see represent just a few of the exhibits that were displayed and I photographed in the UK seaside town of Brighton. This South Coast town has several historic distinctions it houses the spectacular and lavish Brighton Pavilion built by George IV when Prince Regent in Indian style. Its infamous claim to fame it is where the Irish Republican Army attempted to kill by bombing their hotel, the whole of the British Government of Margaret Thatcher, the UK’s first woman prime minister in October 1984. For two years it has hosted what was billed as the biggest sand sculpture festival in the world. Each year it has followed a different theme Egypt (top row) and then Rome (second row). More than 60 of the worlds best sand artists built the history of Egypt and the following year The Roman Empire in the UK seaside town of Brighton. Over 10,000 tons of sand wasin from the Netherlands to create magnificent sculptures up to 15 meters high for the biggest sand sculpture festival ever to appear in the UK. (This type of sand clings together making it’s sculpting possible.) The massive village made entirely of sand covered a 40,000 sq ft site. The highlight of the History of Egypt festival was a 50ft-high pyramid. Sphinxes, mummies, temples, Rameses II and Tutankhamun himself were all depicted.

Because of the inclement weather in the UK at the time of this first open air show the sand artists constantly had to make repairs to their exhibits. For that reason the following year the exhibits were mainly housed in poly tunnel like structures. I felt this did distract from the realism of seeing them outdoors as originally.

Enjoy, John Filkins