On the King Edward Terrace side of the Questacon building are a series of sculptures depicting a variety of sports. These sculptures, designed by Ken Cato, were used for the Melbourne 1996 Olympic bid.
The sculptures were installed outside a sporting venue in Melbourne and were relocated to Canberra as an outdoor exhibition. The figures are heavy - made from 25mm thick steel, they each weigh hundreds of kilograms. Once the complex process of installation was complete, Screenmakers were contracted to refurbish the sculptures in an effort to restore them back to their original bright and colourful condition.
To achieve the restoration, first, protective screens were constructed around each of the sculptures. Following this, each steel figure was individually sandblasted and prepared for painting. The figures were then coated using a 2 Pack Polyurethane finish.
Once the base colours were restored, to enhance the sculptures, it was decided that the application of detailed reflective glass beads would bring the figures to life at night. The glass reflective beads were then individually hand-embedded with a layer of clear Polyurethane and then the entire structure was coated for a second time to complete the external finish.
The finished result is a series of striking, restored sculptures that add life and colour to the entire area, day or night.
Sandblasting and Painting
