Dubai’s cityscape Sand sculptor Jennifer Rossen says she packs the sand and water very tightly in wooden boxes to make a solid mould she can carve into. It's the question on everyone's lips, even His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sand sculptor Jennifer Rossen, who put together the sandy creations on JBR's The Beach and the new City Walk, says everyone wants to know whether the castles are made of just sand and water, or if there are chemicals or cement holding them up.
"Sheikh Mohammed came down to The Beach and it was the first thing he asked me.”
And she told him what she tells everyone: "Yes, only sand and water.”
"The sandcastles challenge people's ideas, and it can surprise them when they find out it's only sand and water,” she says.
The secret is water and compaction. Jennifer says she packs the sand and water very tightly in wooden boxes to make a solid mould she can carve into.
"So you don't really build a castle, you cut a castle away,” she explained. Once the sand castle is completed, it is sprayed with a water and glue mixture to protect the surface from wind and rain.
The 13-year Dubai resident has travelled around the world, from Dubai to Italy, putting together sand sculptures for businesses and governments and festivals.
She says she decided to settle in Dubai because it's central and easy to fly to places from, and, as her website cheekily points out, "there is a lot of sand” here.
The Australian says there is always plenty of work for artists and sculptors in Dubai.
"The government spends money on festivals, the arts, public events and wholesome family events, so that's great for someone like me.”
She used to work in advertising, but made the move into sand sculpting because she wanted to give people "quality of life” and not sell products they don't want or need.
Jenny then went on to represent Australia at the World Championship Sandsculpting competition in Canada and has gained admittance to the Guild of Master Sandsculptors (it exists).
Jennifer first became interested in sandcastles growing up right near the beach in the small town of Cottesloe in Perth. As a child, she played at the beach every day after school and she had a good imagination.
"My brother read The Hobbit to me as a bed-time story and so whenever I would go to the beach I would make castles which I thought little Hobbits could live in.”
The best part of her job is watching young children react to her castles, and she is especially enjoying the reaction to her most favourite piece yet, the Dubai cityscape on The Beach (pictured).
"I am very proud of it. I think this is a great project, great location and a great sand sculpture.”
Source: Khaleej Times