Next Friday 6th March, Sculpture by the Sea returns to Cottesloe Beach, with Dr Subodh Kerkar, founding director of the Museum of Goa, announced as the Tourism WA Invited International Artist, alongside Karla Hart as this year’s Tourism WA Invited Aboriginal Artist.
Dr Subodh Kerkar will exhibit a performance installation titled ‘Oceans and Civilizations’ at the 21st Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2026. The live performance will be filmed and shown to audiences around the world.
Dr Kerkar has exhibited object-based sculptures at Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe three times since 2013, and Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi four times since 2012. In more recent years Dr Kerkar has created performance artworks in Korea and across India. ‘Oceans and Civilizations’ will be his first performance artwork in Australia and will celebrate the inseparability of coastal life and the ocean’s role in the development of civilizations. The performance installation will involve 100 volunteer members of the community on Cottesloe Beach, during Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2026. Members of the public who wish to volunteer to participate in ‘Oceans and Civilizations’ can email [email protected].
Dr Kerkar is a qualified medical professional who left behind medicine to pursue art in 1990. Since then, he has carved a niche for himself in the fields of conceptual art, land art and performance art. Dr Kerkar’s art practice spans a broad spectrum, including installations, sculptures, multimedia works, performances, paintings and drawings. His artworks draw heavily on the visual power of the ocean, and are often commentaries on social, political and religious issues.
Dr Kerkar said: “I am an Ocean Artist. The history of Human civilisation is dissolved in the oceans. Through my work I precipitate it.”
David Handley, Founding CEO & Artistic Director of Sculpture by the Sea, said: “It is wonderful to invite Subodh Kerkar to create the first of his performance artworks in Australia that will be filmed and shown at its best online and via social media to audiences around the world. The artwork is an opportunity for members of the public to participate as one of 100 performers to join Cottesloe beach and Subodh Kerkar in creating something very special.”
The performances of ‘Oceans and Civilizations’ can be experienced exclusively by visitors to the 21st exhibition of Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe in Perth on 6,7 and 9 March 2026. The exhibition attracts 230,000 local, interstate and international visitors each March to the famous Cottesloe beach to create one of Australia’s largest free to the public events.
Proud Noongar woman Karla Hart has been selected as the 2026 Tourism WA Invited Aboriginal Artist. Two-time NAIDOC Artist of the Year (Perth, 2009 and 2017), Hart is a multi-award-winning artist, excelling as a filmmaker, actor, musician, performer, speaker and teacher. She received the 2021 West Australian of the Year Aboriginal Award for her valuable contributions to arts and culture, renowned for empowering her community through performance, dance, music and media. Hart’s work is deeply influenced by her connection to country and culture, as well as her commitment to sharing First Nations stories.
2026 will be Hart’s first time exhibiting at Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, leading a performance artwork titled ‘Wardarn Dreaming’ with Noongar women’s dance group, Kawrbah Djookian (Beautiful Sisters) which she manages and performs with. ‘Wardarn Dreaming’ will be an immersive live performance celebrating the Noongar people’s connection to the ocean. It will be a deeply engaging cultural experience on Cottesloe Beach for visitors, using the evocative ocean soundscape in conjunction with language chanting. The performances on Sunday 8 March and Sunday 22 March will feature powerful dance, song and skilled didgeridoo playing during Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2026.
Karla Hart said: “We come from many lands, carrying different stories, languages and journeys, yet what connects so many of us is our deep relationship to Country. As Noongar people, the ocean is more than a place — it is a living spirit. It provides, it teaches, it heals, and it holds the memory of those who walked before us. Through dance, song and story we honour that spirit and invite others to feel the power and care that flows between people and the sea.”
David Handley, Founding CEO & Artistic Director of Sculpture by the Sea, said: “The response of the people of Perth to previous performance artworks on Cottesloe beach has led to our partnership with Tourism WA to invite Karla Hart to create a new artwork to be enjoyed as the sun goes down by visitors to Cottesloe beach. Karla has a significant national reputation and we are delighted to welcome her and to showcase her creativity to visitors at Cottesloe beach.”
The WA Government, through Tourism WA, has supported the Invited International Artist program since 2016, facilitating acclaimed international artists to exhibit major works on the shores of Cottesloe Beach for the enjoyment of Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe visitors.
Dr Subodh Kerkar joins a list of prominent sculptors invited to exhibit in previous years as part of the program, including Sean Henry, Sir Tony Cragg and Zadok Ben-David (England), Li Wei and Zhan Wang (China), Chris Booth and Phil Price (New Zealand) and Haruyuki Uchida and Takeshi Tanabe (Japan).
Karla Hart is the second Tourism WA Invited Aboriginal Artist, joining Sharyn Egan who was invited in 2024.
Hon. Reece Whitby MLA, WA Minister for Tourism, said:
“As a stand-out event on Western Australia’s year-round events calendar, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe showcases our State as a destination where world-class creativity and rich cultural roots meet iconic coastal landscapes.
“The Cook Government is proud to support Dr Subodh Kerkar and Karla Hart in this year’s program as we celebrate diverse voices while drawing visitors to experience Western Australia’s unique arts and cultural offering.
“It’s all part of our Government’s priority to diversify the Western Australian economy so it remains the strongest in the nation through fostering a vibrant and creative economy.”
To celebrate Sculpture by the Sea’s return to Cottesloe beach 70 artists from 8 countries have been selected and invited to exhibit by Sculpture by the Sea’s National Artistic Advisory Committee. Respected sculptors from across Australia will be joined by renowned international artists, with 11 Japanese artists exhibiting alongside artists from Canada, Denmark, India, Italy, New Zealand and the USA representing excellence in sculpture from around the globe.
Since the exhibition began in 2005 on the iconic white sands of Cottesloe Beach, 611 artists from 44 countries have exhibited 1,368 sculptures in 21 years.
