A giant sculpture of Tasmania’s famous ‘Neil the seal’ has appeared at Bellerive Beach on Hobart’s eastern shore.
Crafted by professional sand sculptor Yves Geradts, the creation – made from three tonnes of quarry sand, has become an instant hit with beachgoers after it was completed in just nine hours on Saturday.
“Everyone loves it. Everyone’s always flabbergasted how it’s made from just sand,” Geradts told Pulse.
“It’s not beach sand, so it’s like bricky sand. People think it’s beach sand and it’s actually not.”
The Dutch-born artist, who has lived in Tasmania for five years, created the sculpture at the request of Clarence City Council, who suggested the local celebrity seal as the perfect subject.
“Neil the seal has been showing up on quite a lot of beaches around Clarence Council,” Geradts explained.
“I’ve seen Neil the seal myself as well in Clifton. And there’s quite a few people who saw him from Kingston to Murdunna, Eaglehawk Neck. So a lot of people relate to Neil the seal.”
While the Bellerive Beach Party was cancelled due to strong winds, Geradts was determined to complete the project for the community.
“With a sand sculpture, [it] doesn’t blow away. We were in the storm and we were still making the sculpture,” he said.
The professional sculptor has been creating sand art for approximately 20 years, starting his career in the Netherlands before continuing while backpacking in Australia.
He now creates four or five sand sculptures annually for various events, though most of his Australian work happens on the mainland.
As for how long the seal sculpture will remain on Bellerive Beach, Geradts said it comes down to human intervention rather than weather.
“Till kids decide to break it down. If you would not touch a sand sculpture, it stays up forever,” he said.
“If you would put it somewhere inside and it dries out, it gets rock hard. It’s like sandstone.”
