Search

Jaw-Dropping Modernist Sandcastles by Calvin Seibert

It’s pretty easy to spend hours scoping out Calvin Seibert’s Flickr account where he’s amassed a catalog of jaw-dropping sandcastles that take on geometric forms you didn’t think were possible with sand. The professional sculptor erects these unbelievable structures with roots in brutalist architecture and modernism that I imagine have people on the beach mesmerized for hours watching as they come together. Take a look.

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-1a

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-2

From Seibert:

Building “sandcastles” is a bit of a test. Nature will always be against you and time is always running out. Having to think fast and to bring it all together in the end is what I like about it. I rarely start with a plan, just a vague notion of trying to do something different each time. Once I begin building and forms take shape I can start to see where things are going and either follow that road or attempt to contradict it with something unexpected.

In my mind they are always mash-ups of influences and ideas. I see a castle, a fishing village, a modernist sculpture, a stage set for the oscars all at once.

When they are successful they don’t feel contained or finished. They become organic machines that might grow and expand. I am always adding just one more bit and if time allowed I wouldn’t stop.

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-3

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-4

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-5

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-6

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-7

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-8

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-9

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-10

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-11

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-12

calvin-seibert-modern-sandcastles-13

[H/T Colossal]

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.