They are strung on wires from tall turpentines or scattered over the rainforest floor. Some are clinging to tree trunks, others are suspended beneath the canopy.
They are made of timber, fibreglass, aluminium, steel, ceramics, plaster, even discarded plastic cutlery, toy cars and pantyhose.
The eclectic collection which makes up this year's Sculpture at Scenic World shows a wide variety of forms and concepts. Thirty-one artworks have been installed along the boardwalk at the Katoomba tourist attraction.
The exhibition, now in its fourth year, opened last week. The winner of the major award (worth $20,000) was Marrickville artist Elyssa Sykes-Smith. Her striking work made from recycled timber is called A Canopy of Thoughts. It hovers over both the bush and the boardwalk; beneath it a human figure reaches upward to connect to the canopy.
An emotional Ms Sykes-Smith thanked her mother for helping collect the materials she used and paid special mention to the Scenic World installation team, who worked closely with each artist to ensure the placement and final look of their art was exactly as they wanted it.
"I have never done a work of this scale or suspended. I knew it was an ambitious idea but I was aware with the skilled installation team led by Richard Harrison, that this sculpture would become a reality," she said.
A highly commended award was presented to Finland artist Sandra Nyberg for her work titled Heritage, which was inspired by the architecture of the Hill End area.
Joint managing director of Scenic World, Anthea Hammon, said she was thrilled to see how the event had captured the imagination of artists, not just from NSW or Australia, but also around the world, with contributions this year from Germany, Finland, New Zealand and Japan.
The event this year has extended beyond Scenic World to the Cultural Centre in Katoomba, where there are smaller-scale works from selected artists. There is also another exhibition, metalheads, with sculptures made from metal on display at Scenic World, the Carrington Hotel and the Cultural Centre.
The centre's CEO, Paul Brinkman, said Anthea and her brother David Hammon had a vision four years ago to start the sculpture exhibition to "reach out to the community" and the response showed how well it had worked.
Mr Brinkman announced the steel work of Blackheath sculptor Hannah Surtees, Tall Tales, had been selected to be exhibited on the centre's viewing deck for a month after the Scenic World exhibition closes on May 10.
All-inclusive tickets to Sculpture at Scenic World include entry to the exhibition, unlimited rides, plus entry to the Cultural Centre. See www.scenicworld.com.au/sculpture.
