Story behind new Black Rock sculptures on seafront

Brighton-based artists Anna Dumitriu and Alex May have created three works of art which represent the values of Black Rock in Brighton, called the ‘beachcombers’.

The pair spoke to residents and visitors to gather stories about Black Rock and what it means to them.

They identified three key aspects of the area which each sculpture represents - nature, people and engineering.

The nature sculpture focuses on the flora and fauna of Black Rock, while the people sculpture focuses on the history of the area and its famous residents.

The Black Rock nature sculpture (Image: Alex May) READ MORE: Rye Creative Centre to host Christmas market with 20 makers

Finally, the engineering sculpture portrays its importance in Black Rock’s heritage, including the Volks Railway.

Anna said: “Our sculptures aim to make a link across time from the early days of Black Rock to its contemporary and future story.

“We heard so many fascinating stories from local people who are passionate about the area, and we really enjoyed researching the rich history of Black Rock.

The Black Rock people sculpture (Image: Alex May) “As a result, all the elements are very meaningful to the city.”

Councillor Mitchie Alexander, cabinet member for culture, heritage and tourism, said: “It’s amazing how the artists have managed to capture and embed so much of Black Rock’s fascinating past, present and future in these three unique and beautiful sculptures.

“I’d like to congratulate Anna, Alex and the many residents who provided the inspiration for the project – together you have all created something really wonderful.”