Conservation of Alexander Liberman's 'The Way'

About the project

The objective of this conservation project was to re-establish the total integrity of Alexander Liberman's The Way. Conservation focused on three main elements: metal, paint, and concrete. It began with a material blasting of the sculpture using an eco-friendly abrasive to remove layers of old paint and primer. Any areas that had metal rot, rust, or other signs of damage were replaced or repaired. During the repair work, an approximately 54-foot section of one long diagonal tube was found to be too damaged to restore, and had to be cut and removed, along with two large deteriorating sections of one of the centre tubes. A new 54-foot section was constructed of hot rolled steel, alongside two large metal patches, following a six-week process. These replacements were hoisted into position and welded to the existing sections, blending the new metal seamlessly with the original structure. The sculpture's concrete pads were replaced and in April 2024, once all repairs were finished, the entire surface was roller painted with two coats of the sculpture's signature red colour. In celebration of the conservation of The Way, the newly painted sculpture was unveiled to nearly 20,000 visitors over a 3-day period in May 2024.