Bathing Beauties

Take a stroll along the North Sea coast in the Belgian town of Knokke, and you may encounter a school of great whites. But these giants don't bite.

Annie Block -- Interior Design, 7/1/2010 12:10:00 PM

Take a stroll along the North Sea coast in the Belgian town of Knokke, and you may encounter a school of great whites. But these giants don't bite. Or swim. Instead, they are works by Fons Schobbers, displayed under the name "Sculpture Link." Concep­tually connecting the beach promenade to Art Nocturne Knocke-an art and antiques fair where Schobbers is showing work in such mediums as marble and paper, specifically discontinued currency-the beach exhibition is soaking up the sun until August 15.

Schobbers hand-carved the dozen sculptures from white or black polyester to resemble huge seashells and other organic shapes, ranging from 6½ to 16 feet high, then hand-polished the forms to a high gloss. Most are nonfunctional, elevated on simple concrete pedestals, but one is a functioning bench, bearing witness to Schobbers's training in industrial design. All will eventually be cast in bronze.