Exposure - History

In 2001 the Province of Flevoland made the means available for the Lelystad municipality to develop a sixth land artwork for the province. De Verbeelding, the centre for landscape art in Zeewolde, was commissioned to research the most suitable location for this work of art, with the best possible relation to city and water, and to select an artist.

Gormley wins competition

Once the location – the dam lying parallel to the shoreline of Lelystad – had been announced, a competition was opened for artists to submit a draft concept for the landscape artwork. In 2005 British artist Antony Gormley was awarded the commission to realise the final design.

Complex technical issues

It took until 2007 for the final design to be completed, owing to the many complex technical issues that needed to be explored and solved. Realisation of the artwork was also becoming increasingly expensive because of these issues. It became clear that additional funding would be necessary. Besides a number of smaller sponsors, the Xavier Hufkens Gallery from Brussels, at Antony Gormley’s request, was found willing to almost completely finance the shortfall. In the summer of 2007, after a meeting between Antony Gormley and the newly appointed alderman Jop Fackeldey, the Exposure project was given a second lease on life.

Execution

Exposure was constructed between 2007 and 2010 by the Scottish manufacturer Had Fab Ltd, specialist in electricity pylons. This company was involved with the project from the concept draft onwards and was assisted in the construction by Dutch engineering company Royal Haskoning. In 2009 the foundation was laid and a trial construction made on the grounds of Had Fab in Scotland. In the summer of 2010, Had Fab erected the artwork on the dyke in under a month’s time.

Inauguration

On 17 September 2010 Exposure was officially inaugurated by the artist.