Sunday, August 27, 2006
Brighton Sand Sculptures. Birthday Part 3.
Some days we just don't know where the day will lead us.
My birthday was just such a day.
We had some plans; but fate and a lovely stranger added to the delights of the day.
We hesitated outside the sand sculpture exhibition, unsure what would be inside and wondering if we wouldn't be better to save our money.
Suddenly a pair of women, complete strangers, were talking with us about how wonderful the exhibition is.
And then they offered us 2 tickets that they had not used.
We are so grateful and can only recommend that we all continue this trend of contributing random acts of kindness to people we meet.
The sand sculptures depicted scenes from the Ancient Roman Empire.
Every sculpture is made from sand alone - with some water of course.
It is hard to imagine that an artist can spend so long creating a fantastic structure that is destined to have such a short life span.
In September all the sculptures will be destroyed.
This is a random selection of pictures that we took.
I may put some more on later - I would like to give some permanence both to our experience and also the artist's work.
Well, we all know the legend!
Rome was created by Romulus and Remus, who had been reared by a wolf.
We saw scenes of glory - Caesars, centurions, soldiers of the Roman legions.
There were gods and goddesses surrounded by their symbolic animals.
There were scenes of rural life.
But here we have a less happy side of life at the prison.
This was close by the part that showed crowds at the colliseum watching the slaves and the Christians being thrown to the lions.
This must have been a hell - but was not a depiction of hell, as I first thought.
We really should have bought a programme, then we would have known exactly what we were seeing.
Bill and I were fascinated by the crowd scenes.
Every face was different and revealed some strong emotions.
We were amazed that a sculpture could achieve so much with just sand and water - our efforts at making sand castles seem paltry in comparison.
The kitchen was so full of detail.
I thought the floor tiles were wonderful - so simple, yet so effective.
The roof tiles beyond match exactly rooves that we saw at Pompeii.
And the kitchen had a wonderful touch of humour....
just outside was a dog....
..... and in his mouth was a sausage, the end of a long string of sausages which he had clearly dragged from the kitchen table.
Life in ancient Rome was free and easy for those with power and money and the orgies are infamous.
What a great fat brute of a man that is who has the beautiful maiden in his arms!
I can only admire the skill of the sculptor here.
The man is clearly North African and his facial details and espression are so well depicted.
And after the orgies, the Romans would have gathered in the baths.
There were scenes at the bath house and this amazing massage scene.
Just look how the rolls of fat flesh have been captured in sand.
The Roman Empire crumbled long ago and yet it still fascinates and draws people to learn and contemplate on the lives so long ago.
Here we have a 21st century family amongst the ruins of ancient Rome.
I love the way that child is looking at something completely different!
The sculptures were all the same colour - it is just that Bill and I have created finished pictures which show different shades.
My birthday was just such a day.
We had some plans; but fate and a lovely stranger added to the delights of the day.
We hesitated outside the sand sculpture exhibition, unsure what would be inside and wondering if we wouldn't be better to save our money.
Suddenly a pair of women, complete strangers, were talking with us about how wonderful the exhibition is.
And then they offered us 2 tickets that they had not used.
We are so grateful and can only recommend that we all continue this trend of contributing random acts of kindness to people we meet.
The sand sculptures depicted scenes from the Ancient Roman Empire.
Every sculpture is made from sand alone - with some water of course.
It is hard to imagine that an artist can spend so long creating a fantastic structure that is destined to have such a short life span.
In September all the sculptures will be destroyed.
This is a random selection of pictures that we took.
I may put some more on later - I would like to give some permanence both to our experience and also the artist's work.
Well, we all know the legend!
Rome was created by Romulus and Remus, who had been reared by a wolf.
We saw scenes of glory - Caesars, centurions, soldiers of the Roman legions.
There were gods and goddesses surrounded by their symbolic animals.
There were scenes of rural life.
But here we have a less happy side of life at the prison.
This was close by the part that showed crowds at the colliseum watching the slaves and the Christians being thrown to the lions.
This must have been a hell - but was not a depiction of hell, as I first thought.
We really should have bought a programme, then we would have known exactly what we were seeing.
Bill and I were fascinated by the crowd scenes.
Every face was different and revealed some strong emotions.
We were amazed that a sculpture could achieve so much with just sand and water - our efforts at making sand castles seem paltry in comparison.
The kitchen was so full of detail.
I thought the floor tiles were wonderful - so simple, yet so effective.
The roof tiles beyond match exactly rooves that we saw at Pompeii.
And the kitchen had a wonderful touch of humour....
just outside was a dog....
..... and in his mouth was a sausage, the end of a long string of sausages which he had clearly dragged from the kitchen table.
Life in ancient Rome was free and easy for those with power and money and the orgies are infamous.
What a great fat brute of a man that is who has the beautiful maiden in his arms!
I can only admire the skill of the sculptor here.
The man is clearly North African and his facial details and espression are so well depicted.
And after the orgies, the Romans would have gathered in the baths.
There were scenes at the bath house and this amazing massage scene.
Just look how the rolls of fat flesh have been captured in sand.
The Roman Empire crumbled long ago and yet it still fascinates and draws people to learn and contemplate on the lives so long ago.
Here we have a 21st century family amongst the ruins of ancient Rome.
I love the way that child is looking at something completely different!
The sculptures were all the same colour - it is just that Bill and I have created finished pictures which show different shades.
