"They are part of an outside exhibition now."
The symposium's theme "The Returning Soldier" tied in with World War I commemorations but also recognised historic links to the tranquil Sulphur Lake area, where convalescing soldiers relaxed while undergoing treatment at the old Sanatorium nearby, now home to the Rotorua Museum.
Guest artist Gleb Tkachenko travelled from Russia to take part in the symposium.
His sculpture depicts three soldiers marching forward.
"It's about the hard life of the soldier, the soldier will never be the same again.
"It is about the way war destroys people and if they come back they won't be the same ever again," he said.
Mr Spijkerbosch said he received about 30 submissions from all over the world to take part in the symposium.
"We had to get that down to 17. The great thing about it is eight of those are local artists - Joe Kemp, Jamie Pickernell, Trevor Nathan, Logan Shipgood, Natanahira Te Pona, Netane Singh-Lagah, Peter Akurangi and Rakei Kingi."
The sculptures are for sale but can not be removed until the middle of March next year.
Any sculpture sold will be replaced by the artist with a similar work, he said.
The sculptures will be replaced in two years, after the next Sculpture Symposium.
-For more information on the sculptures visit www.creativerotorua.org.nz
