Sandsation 2009

Last weekend another Boschie and I visited Sandsation, the annual International Sand Sculpture Festival held here in Berlin. This exhibition was special this year, however, as the sculptures present were also this year's entries for the United Sand Festivals World Double Championship. Not quite certain of the significance of this particular championship, but I am certain that the sand sculptures were unbelievably impressive. Maybe even "sandsational." Joining other Germans - all enjoying either ice cream or beer - on this man-made beach on the banks of the Spree was also memorable.

The theme this year is "City of the Future," and many of the sculptures exhibit a noticeable dystopian quality. I think this expressionless automaton figure being built (or is it deconstructed?) captures this theme nicely.

This sculpture depicts a child being fed by a Mary figure that is both maternal and yet mechanized. The vision is one of children being nurtured by an inpersonal, bureaucratized society rather than parents. Definitely a strong Brave New World feel present here.

This may have been my favorite sand sculpture. The level of detail was unbelievable, from the "bottles" on the wall to the checkered floor to the half-removed stockings on the slouching woman's feet. The figures are life-size and realistic. Apparently bars will still serve the same purpose in the future.