Australia's "Sculpture by the Sea" exhibition begins near Sydney

SYDNEY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Australia's annual "Sculpture by the Sea" exhibition got under way on Tuesday with more than 100 giant figures looming along the coastline between Bondi and Tamarama beaches near Sydney.

The exhibition showcases both Australian and international artists and will stop beachgoers in their sandy tracks with sculptures such as a red flipflop sandal and a dismembered rhinoceros with its feet in the air.

The annual event, which began in 1997 and is free to the public, received close to 500 submissions this year from sculptors in 27 countries around the world.

It runs until Nov. 6 and is expected to attract thousands of visitors working on their tan amidst the huge sculptures.

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