Making Ouroboros
How do you fabricate a 13-tonne sculpture? Go behind the scenes with Australian artist Lindy Lee to find out
Lindy Lee, Ouroboros at UAP Company, Brisbane (2023) by Josef Ruckli and Lindy LeeNational Gallery of Australia
Ouroboros is one of artist Lindy Lee's most significant works to date, standing 4.2 metres high and weighing 13 tonnes. Visitors can enter the sculpture’s ‘mouth’ and experience an interior illuminated by light beams emanating from the thousands of perforations on its surface.
Lindy Lee at UAP Company, Brisbane (2023) by Photo: Josef Ruckli and Lindy LeeNational Gallery of Australia
"This is the first opportunity I’ve had to make a truly immersive work, so that you can feel and experience a sense of being intrinsic to the work." – Lindy Lee
How was it made?
Ouroboros was fabricated at Urban Art Projects (UAP) Foundry in Meanjin/Brisbane over four years. The construction process had four main stages: pattern making, casting, fabrication and finishing.
Casting Ouroboros at UAP Company, Brisbane (2023) by Josef Ruckli and Lindy LeeNational Gallery of Australia
Casting
Casting involves polystyrene patterns being sand moulded. Reclaimed and recycled stainless steel is poured into moulds and allowed to cool.
Fabricating Ouroboros (2023) by Josef Ruckli#0 Lindy Lee#1National Gallery of Australia
Fabrication
Fabrication begins with raw castings being cleaned, fettled and sandblasted. Fettling is the process by which rough edges are trimmed, and all excess cast components removed.
Welding Ouroboros at UAP Company, Brisbane (2023) by Josef Ruckli and Lindy LeeNational Gallery of Australia
Finishing
During finishing, panels are dipped in acidic solution to provide a protective layer to minimise rust, then sandblasted for polishing before being assembled onto a temporary steel armature. Alignment is checked and adjusted during this step, with the aid of augmented reality.
Ouroboros at UAP Company, Brisbane (2023) by Photo: Josef Ruckli and Lindy LeeNational Gallery of Australia
Once the panels have been aligned, they are welded together and prepared for final finishing.
Plasma cutting Ouroboros at UAP Company, Brisbane (2023) by Photo: Josef Ruckli and Lindy LeeNational Gallery of Australia
The next step involves plasma cutting of 45,000+ perforations. Once completed, final shaping and finishing starts to create a mirror-polished reflective surface.
Polishing Ouroboros at UAP Company, Brisbane (2023) by Josef Ruckli and Lindy LeeNational Gallery of Australia
Now fully assembled, a passivation gel is applied to protect against rusting and to provide a protective coating.
Lindy Lee Ouroboros at Night (2024) by National Gallery of Australia#0 Lindy Lee#1National Gallery of Australia
Finally...
The Ouroboros is complete and ready to be installed in its new home at the National Gallery, where it is now open to the public and set to welcome visitors for generations to come.
Lindy Lee’s Ouroboros was commissioned to celebrate the National Gallery’s 40th anniversary in 2022 and is now open to the public, free, 24 hours a day.
