Sand comes alive!

To most people, 35,000 tonnes of sand would simply be a beach.

However, to more than 45 talented artists led by Alper Alagoz, this mountain of sand is used to create temporary masterpieces that rise from the ground and take shape over a matter of days before being left to the elements and returning to its natural state.

Now in its eighth year, the Fiesa International Sand Sculpture Festival site near Pêra is a hive of activity with diggers, artists and technicians all busy working in the sun ready for the grand opening on May 22.

Zara Gaze from London is creating a piece for the festival for the third consecutive year.

Alper Alagoz, founder of the Fiesa festival, told the Algarve Resident: “The weather has been much better this year so we have been able to progress very quickly but there is still a lot of work to be done before the carvers have to leave on May 15.”

Alper is busy with organising the entire event but still makes time to be able to lend a hand to the artists, who work alone but with help from the others to create their own masterpieces.

“It is a great atmosphere here,” he said. “This is a space where artists can learn from each other and gain inspiration. Many of the carvers who first started here eight years ago have now improved massively and this can be seen in the quality of the work on show here.”

It takes a team of more than 60 people to create the finished sculpture park, including the carvers, administration, electricians and other workers who come together from all around the world to create the final product.

Living World

“The artists have really embraced the theme of the Living World and have been able to create some wonderful pieces,” said Alper Alagoz

A quick look around the site and already fish, seahorses and sharks are visible in the centre while badgers and moles mingle with elephants and pandas in the magical setting.

Zara Gaze is a sand carver from London. She said: “There is not a lot of sand in London so I started by creating gorilla pieces in building sand where road works were taking place. This was my way of brightening up the day of people in London but I wanted to do something more so I contacted Pro Sand Art and joined the team here three years ago.”

Now a professional carver, Zara Gaze, who studied fine art at Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London, is a full time sculptor.

“My family and friends think that I am a bit bonkers but I have the best job in the world. I get to travel and meet amazing people while creating beautiful sculptures,” she said.

Underground animals are the theme being followed by Zara Gaze: “I have drawn inspiration from the wildlife in England and have included a badger and some moles.”

Also drawing from inspiration from his home country is Kevin Crawford, an Australian artist who has been working with sand for the past 30 years.

“This is my first time in Portugal and it is great to be working on such a large scale with so many people,” he said.

“I am focusing on the wildlife from Australia. I really enjoy working with the sand here as it packs well and it is wonderful being able to reuse sand from previous shows.”

Working on a very large piece is Arianne van Rosmalen from Holland, who has been a professional sand sculptor for three years.

“It really is a challenge to come here and be told ‘here is your pile of sand’ and then be left to create something amazing from it,” she said.

When all the sculptures are completed, the artists leave and it is then down to the technicians to finish the park, complete with lighting, paths and shops ready for the grand opening on May 22.

Fiesa is open from 10am until midnight up until September 15 and then between 10am and 8pm until the park closes on October 22.

Tickets cost eight euros for adults and 4.50 euros for children between the ages of six and 12.

The Algarve Resident is proud to be a sponsor of Fiesa International Sand Sculpture Festival.

For further information about Fiesa please call 282 317 084 or 969 459 25, email  fiesa@prosandart.com or alternatively visit www.fiesa.org (available in English).