Dawn of new Iron Age as sculpture takes pride of place again
HE’S been missing for 1,633 days but the 20ft tall Iron:Man is back where he belongs leaning over to one side at the heart of Birmingham city centre.
The towering, six-tonne sculpture was lifted in overnight last Thursday and will be the centre of attention during an official ceremony this month to mark his return.
Created five years before the Angel of the North (1998) by sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, Iron:Man was funded by the TSB and first lowered into position at the top of New Street close to the former Victorian post office building almost exactly 29 years ago on February 28, 1993.
CAST at Firth Rixon Castings in Willenhall, Iron:Man was created to represent the traditional skills of Birmingham and Black Country workers.
It was said to have divided public opinion because Sir Anthony had used a type of iron which encourages oxidation to protect the metal.
Iron:Man, which leans 7.5 degrees backwards and five degrees to its left, was removed on September 5, 2017 to enable the West Midlands Metro to be extended from Grand Central to Centenary Square.
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “Birmingham’s Iron:Man was returned to Victoria Square overnight, to enable safety of contractors and the public given the ongoing public realm works in the area and resumption of West Midlands Metro services to Centenary Square.
“The Iron:Man will remain behind fencing while reinstatement and paving works are completed and an official welcome back is due to be held in March - further details will be announced when they are confirmed.”
The sculpture’s return comes at a time when parts of Victoria Square are still being remodelled in time for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which will run from July 28 to August 8.