Master of the Universe moved from Modern Two to National gallery requiring curators, conservators and specialist equipment.
National Galleries of Scotland has relocated Eduardo Paolozzi’s Master of the Universe sculpture from National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two to the National gallery in a two-day operation requiring extensive pre-planning.
The one-tonne sculpture travelled through the city to its new location and required expertise from curators, conservators, collections management and specialist movers with specialist kit including a crane and gimble to get the statue in position.
The sculpture has lived at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two since the early 2000s. It has now been positioned outside National Galleries of Scotland: National in the gardens.
Dr Patricia Allerston, deputy director & chief curator of European & Scottish Art atNational Galleries of Scotland said: ‘We wanted to bring the art outdoors and into the gardens at the National to spotlight that we are a gallery from the moment people arrive in the gardens.
“We wanted it to welcome people in and to show a snapshot of the incredible Scottish art on offer inside.
“Paolozzi seemed like a perfect choice for this spot, he was very much an artist who looked to the past as well as to the future, which is very much what we are about at the National Galleries of Scotland. He was also from Edinburgh, which seemed very fitting as he will now be looking out over the city and facing towards his hometown of Leith.’
Master of the Universe is based on a famous drawing by William Blake, which shows the scientist Isaac Newton. Paolozzi used the same pose as in the Blake drawing but has mechanised the figure.
