Lindy Lee’s Ouroboros

Available for over a year

Lindy Lee’s Ouroboros is the most expensive single artwork commission in Australian history. A $14 million, three-tonne, 10-metre wide freestanding shell of mirror-polished stainless steel with 48,000 individually cut plasma-cut perforations: Lindy calls the Ouroboros “her”. Like many pieces of art, her creation is a story of planning, engineering, and technical execution as well as of ideas. Unlike most pieces of art, her creation is also the story of heavy haulage. Mia Hull traces the Ouroboros’ journey from knocking down a foundry wall and being stacked on a wide-bed truck taking up two-and-a-half lanes, to being driven, avoiding bridges and trees by millimetres, some 1200km south to her new home at the National Gallery of Art in Canberra. Mia talks to artist Lindy Lee, NGA Director Nick Mitzevich, foundry director Eve Willems, haulage “megatrucker” Jon Kelly and legendary pilot driver Nick. Presented and produced by Mia Hull Image: Lindy Lee's Ouroboros at the National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra (Credit: Martin Ollman/Lindy Lee)