The polished elegance of a stainless steel and stone sculpture is set off beautifully amid the rocks and the sea along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk near Sydney, Australia.

It was the first day of Sculpture by the Sea, the world's largest annual, free-to-the-public, outdoor sculpture exhibition.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the exhibition got under way on Tuesday with more than 100 giant figures made by both Australian and international artists, reported Reuters. Featuring sculptures such as a red flip-flop sandal and a dismembered rhinoceros with its feet in the air, the works aim to arouse the curiosity and wonder of beachgoers.

The highly popular event, which began in 1997, received close to 500 submissions this year from artists in 27 countries around the world, the report added.

The exhibition runs until Nov 6 and is expected to attract thousands of visitors.