Sometimes referred to as “The Gateshead Flasher” or “Gabriel,” the Angel of the North is the single piece of art that brought Antony Gormley's name into public consciousness. Located on the top of a hill that was once occupied by a colliery, the angel is meant to pay tribute to the industrial heritage of the north east. Its wings stretch 54 metres and are angled 3.5 degrees forward to give the angel what Gormley likes to call, “a sense of embrace” to all who enter or pass through Tyneside. The hollow 20 metre tall steel structure was designed to last more than 100 years and withstand the fast winds it is exposed to on the hilltop. To achieve those long lasting affects, 150 tonnes of concrete was used to create a foundation to anchor the sculpture to rock 20 metres below the ground. Whether you love it or you hate it, the Angel of the North has become a symbol of the north east of the United Kingdom.

Written by  Tara Fuller.

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