Artwork airlifted into private location

Mr Hill's artwork Interdependence installed at its new home. Photo by Martin Hill.

Stormy weather did not prevent the unorthodox delivery of a massive chain-link sculpture from Wanaka artist Martin Hill, with a helicopter brought in to ensure his latest artwork, Interdependence, arrived at its Queenstown destination.

Aspiring Helicopters pilots Charlie Ewing and Doug Maxwell suspended the 500kg sculpture beneath a helicopter and flew the artwork through a -5degC snowstorm and over the Crown Range on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Hill supervised the installation of the privately-commissioned artwork in a lake on a Wakatipu Basin property.

Metalworks engineers, from left, Adam David and Paul Roach, attach a strop to a large-scale sculpture by Wanaka artist Martin Hill in preparation for an airlift over the Crown Range, while pilots Charlie Ewing and Doug Maxwell check helicopter fittings before their flight. Photo by Matt Haggart.

Although unconventional, a helicopter was the most efficient way to transport and install the large-scale artwork, he said.

The sculpture is about 5m across and 2.5m tall. It was welded together by engineers at Ernie Maluschnig's Wanaka Metalworks workshop under the direction of Mr Hill.

The work is designed to reflect themes of sustainability and its title refers to the "interconnectedness" of all things in nature, Mr Hill said.

A confidentiality agreement with the owners of Interdependence prohibits the disclosure of the sculpture's location, or its cost, Mr Hill said.

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