The Boy

Located on the foreshore at Werribee South Beach (on the western side of Port Phillip Bay, Victoria) is this striking steel-plated sculpture by Matt Calvert, titled, 'The Boy'.

Placed in 2007, (costing $35,000) and overlooking the mouth of the Werribee River as it enters the Bay, this sculpture (and I liberally paraphrase from the Artist's statement), is based on a 'Boys Own' style book written and illustrated in the 1960s. The figure was taken from a scene in the book where a silhouetted figure of a lone child is sitting on the grass lost in his thoughts. Other children are playing but this boy is left out of the game to ponder his relevance in an increasing complicated world.

For me, it's a refreshingly uncomplicated Artwork that I do not find too pondering. Actually, I find the sculpture cheerful and captivating and a hoot. As it is located on the Beach and near a playground, it's like a magnet for children too, who I suspect, would not care too much for its inspiration - to them a fun thing to play upon, as I feel it should be. It is certainly a worthy addition culturally. And its huge to boot! Well over 4 meters in height (about 12 feet).

I was visiting Werribee South on a sunny though blustery May day to complete a long walk from near this location to a place called Campbells Cove hunting Geocaches and taking photographs. The Cove's claim to fame, apart from being a designated Nudist Beach - (I only found this out, to my mild amusement and 'consternation', when I arrived there after talking to a Local who I reckon I must have looked a bit 'dodgy' plodding slowly along the Beach and Roads snapping away) - is that it has a number of ramshackle Beach Shacks or Huts with no mains power or water connected. This is very unusual being relatively close to Melbourne.