The sand sculptures in the Grand Court at Metrotown (earlier entries: 1, 2) have been complete for some days now, but the display is coming to an end. The last day is this Sunday, 13 August.

The detail is amazing. Lean in close and you marvel at the varied textures in the surface, representing leaves or ocean waves, the fine lines that make up an iPod display or a picture of the fireworks of the Celebration of Light, the realism of the human faces and figures.

And all in sand, ephemeral sand. Admiring this art leads the mind to ponder on its temporaryness, and the artists (David Billings, Peter Vogelaar, and Craig Mutch) who are willing to make short-lived artworks, knowing full well the mortality of their creations.