Having lived at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two since the early 2000’s, a triumphant effort has seen the sculpture travel through the city to its new location at the National.
Dr Patricia Allerston, Deputy Director & Chief Curator of European & Scottish Art, National 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.’
Taking two days and extensive pre-planning to move the impressive one tonne sculpture, it called on expertise inside and outside the gallery to make it possible. Requiring the skills of curators, conservators, collections management, specialist movers with specialist kit including a crane and gimble to get the statue in position.
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.
The artist also fashioned it to put himself in the picture, creating himself as the sculpture. Interested in the relationship between nature, science and the man made, Paolozzi brought all of this together to create Master of the Universe.
Visit National Galleries Scotland: National to see Master of the Universe and lots of other free art, including the greatest collection of Scottish art in the world.
