Flight
Amar Nath Sehgal
Bronze
1980’s
Akbar Bhawan, 173 Satya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
The Amar Nath Sehgal Private Collection restored a public artwork in 2018 – 2019 that was installed in the 80s in the celebrated Akbar Bhawan.
Akbar Bhawan was designed by architect Shiv Nath Prasad. Its architectural style is inspired by Le Corbusier’s architectural style. The building is one of India’s best-known examples of brutalist architecture.
The sculpture takes on the fluidity and rigidity of a bird just before it takes flight.
The restoration project involved fixing its base structure by carefully replacing the stand that was decaying with rust. The team strengthened the sculpture with new metal attachments, carefully welded into the base of the sculpture. The project was treated with utmost care. The base was replaced with a new granite structure that elevates it to its former glory.
The restoration of the sculpture also included polishing and cleaning of the bronze work, again, through a careful detail-oriented process, using no chemical formulas.
We are happy to share that after the restoration project, the area around the sculpture also has been taken care of by the government. People working in the building today resonate with the work and care for it as a community would.