Ouroboros - National Gallery of Australia

A beacon of light and energy

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA 2024

About the project

The Ouroboros will become a beacon. Daytime or nighttime, it's going to pulse with light and energy." — Lindy Lee

"An enduring and accessible addition to a shared public space, a monument to the values of creativity and collaboration that deserve to be championed." — The Sydney Morning Herald

Commissioned to celebrate the National Gallery of Australia’s 40th anniversary, Ouroboros is an immersive, large-scale public sculpture by renowned artist Lindy Lee. Based on the ancient symbol of a serpent consuming its own tail, the work represents the eternal cycles of life, death, and renewal.

Standing 9 metres wide and weighing approximately 14 tonnes, the sculpture is crafted from 100% recycled mirror-polished stainless steel. Positioned in a tranquil water feature, it invites the public to walk through its interior, where 45,000 hand-perforated holes allow light to dance across the walls, emulating a starry night sky.

The process

Atelier One collaborated closely with fabricator UAP (Urban Art Projects) from the earliest concept stages to achieve a structure that is both pure and efficient. Inspired by the form of seashells, we demonstrated through detailed analysis that the double-curved surface could be self-supporting, completely removing the need for internal ribs or a secondary armature.

A primary technical challenge involved the sculpture’s 45,000 perforations. Rather than analysing every individual hole, we utilised methods from the composites world to determine an equivalent stiffness and strength for the porous shell. This allowed us to establish a clear set of rules for UAP regarding hole density and spacing, ensuring structural integrity in high-stress areas without compromising the artist's creative vision.

Sustainability was a core driver throughout the three-year project. By using recycled scrap metal, the project achieved a 70% reduction in carbon emissions for raw materials. Furthermore, the work was designed for a "cradle-to-cradle" life cycle, ensuring it can be fully recycled if decommissioned in the distant future.

Detailed sequencing and coordination was required to transport the finished 8-metre-wide sculpture 1,300 km from Brisbane to Canberra. We engineered a custom, dismantlable steel stillage and conducted a full dynamic load assessment, ensuring the mirror-finish surface remained undamaged by forces up to 0.8G deceleration during its journey.

The outcome

By day, Ouroboros’ mirrored surface reflects the shifting Australian sky and surrounding landscape; by night, internal illumination transforms it into a glowing sculptural form. The project stands as a testament to close collaboration between artist, fabricator and engineer.

Credits

Artist: Lindy Lee

Structural Engineer: Atelier One

Client: National Gallery of Australia

Fabricator: UAP (Urban Art Projects)

Photography: Martin Olman, Karleen Minney, UAP | Urban Art Projects, National Gallery of Australia,

Press

National Gallery of Australia’s $14m behemoth artwork unveiled – and it’s a showstopper The Guardian

Ouroboros leads the way in sustainable public art National Gallery  of Australia

Lindy Lee’s Ouroboros unveiled at the National Gallery of Australia Australian Arts Review

Theres much more to Lindy Lee’s Ouroboros than the 14m price tag The Sunday Morning Herald