Stepping foot in Perth more than a decade after his work was destroyed by vandals, world-acclaimed sculpturist Chen Wenling hopes to “turn bad into good” when he exhibits at this year’s Sculpture by the Sea.
Showcasing 71 different sculptures from artists across the globe, Cottesloe’s Sculpture by the Sea celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2024.
But the momentous anniversary isn’t the only reason to celebrate, according to Sculpture by the Sea founding chief executive and artistic director David Handley.
Chinese artist Chen Wenling’s first appearance back in Perth following the controversial theft of his work in 2012 was another major celebration.
On March 14, 2012, Chen’s sculpture “Childhood – Morning” was snapped off at its base by two men, leaving the site with the stolen top half of the sculpture — worth $64,000.
“We were all shocked when that happened … on so many levels it was bad,” Handley said.
The shock incident saw outrage across WA and abroad, and was labelled a “racist attack on China” by Chinese state media.
Handley said it was important for the organisation to make amends.
“Chen and I agreed with them to help keep the boys out of jail, and so we put an offer to the boys that if they would pay back Chen, then we would support them with letters of support to the judge,” Handley said.
“Luckily, by then, we had a bit of a capital fund so we paid Chen immediately, and the boys paid us back over time.”
The original sculpture was damaged beyond repair, but a replica was later bought by the State Government and gifted to the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
On the sands of Cottesloe beach Saturday morning alongside another of his iconic red sculptures, “The Top of the Balance”, Chen hopes his return to Perth for this year’s exhibition will give himself and others the chance to reflect.
“I was upset when (the vandalism) happened but I feel that there’s great potential in humanity to turn bad into good,” he said.
The handcrafted piece takes the form of Chen’s signature sculpture style — a red man smiling — while it balances a reflective sphere on its head.
“It’s a little bit of a self-portrait of myself as a young person. It represents the innocence and happiness of childhood,” Chen said.
The mirrored sphere on top represents balance and gives the person viewing the sculpture the chance to “see themselves in different skin”.
“Everything that is reflected in the sphere, whether it’s a bird or a patch of sky, or yourself, is part of the world, and it also gives a chance for the person to see themselves in different skin,” he said.
The renowned beach exhibition will run for another two weeks at Cottesloe and is estimated to bring in about 250,000 visitors.