Angel was commissioned in 1985 by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) as a project of the Australian Bicentennial Authority. The project was designed to ‘promote the celebration of the 200th anniversary of permanent European settlement in Australia’.

Halpern began work on the commission in 1987 and it was completed and installed in the NGV moat in September 1989. Incorporating more than four thousand individually cut and hand-painted tiles fixed to a steel and concrete armature, Angel was, and remains, a massive artistic and engineering feat.

For almost 15 years Angel stood watch at the front of the NGV’s St Kilda Road building. In November 2003 she was removed to facilitate redevelopment works. Following consultation between NGV Trustees, management, the artist and the City of Melbourne it was decided Angel would be relocated to the north bank of the Yarra River.

During the period that Angel was installed in the moat deterioration in the form of a loss of tiles from the surface had occurred. This was largely due to the effects of temperature and moisture.

Prior to removing the sculpture inspection was undertaken using telescopic cameras inserted inside the sculpture. This revealed a sound armature. Special support bracing was built around the body for lifting and the surface was covered with adhesive sheeting to ensure remaining tiles did not fall away during movement. With the artist present the sculpture was then disassembled into three parts which were lifted by crane and transported by road to the factory of sculpture fabricator J K Fasham P/L.

Over a five-month period the artist and her assistants removed loose tiles & rebuilt underlying concrete surfaces. The entire surface was inspected for missing grout and expansion joints were added. The sculpture was steam cleaned to remove dirt, adhesive residue and general years of grime buildup. The missing tiles were re-constructed by the artist where needed.

On completion of the restoration the sculpture was transported to its new site. Special permits were obtained and an early start (3:00 am) was required to meet the local roads authority requirements for oversized transport. Consideration was also given to the impact of this activity in the heart of the city.

At the site two cranes, a 100 tonne and a 30 tonne, were positioned to lift the main body due to size, weight and delicacy of the sculpture. The cranes were choreographed to lift in unison and stand the work upright before the larger crane lifted the main body up over the trees and into position.

The smaller crane then lifted each head into place. They were then welded in place by crew using a scissor-lift and a cherry-picker.

Since April 20, 2006 Angel has once again been bestowing her otherworldly charm on residents & visitors to Melbourne.

Brent Powell and David Hurlston
National Gallery of Victoria