Over more than a decade, the main hall of the Wellington International Airport He offered travelers an imposing image: two giant eagles suspended in the air, with Gandalf the gray riding on one of them while raising his voice in a heroic cry. This installation, directly inspired by the film universe of “El Hobbit”, captured the attention of tourists and also remembered the central role that the city had as the epicenter of production of the film sagas of J. R. R. Tolkien.
But that era comes to an end. This week, the Eagles are going to be definitively removed, as the Wellington airport confirmed on Monday. “Here there has been a narrative theme very focused on the lord of the rings”said Matt Clarke, executive director of the airport to AP News. “Now we seek to change that for something new.”
The sculptures, installed in 2013, have a difficult scale to ignore: each reaches a wingspan of 15 meters and an approximate weight of 1,179 kilograms. The most outstanding composition represents the Magician Gandalf riding one of the birds, suspended in full flight, with thorough details that include a thousand feathers made through 3D impression. The other eagle, without a rider, accompanied the scene from a different angle.
These types of facilities are not frequent in airport spaces and their mere presence added a unique scenographic dimension to the transit environment. Beyond the visual impact, the piece operated as an immediate wink to the cinematographic legacy that turned Wellington into synonymous with Middle Earth.
Despite its popularity, the maintenance of sculptures was not exempt from difficulties. In 2016, one of the Eagles detached from its anchors during a strong earthquake and fell on the floor of the terminal. The fact did not leave injured, but highlighted the technical complexity of maintaining structures of that size suspended in spaces with high circulation of people and prone to earthquakes.
Despite that episode, the sculptures continued exposed and were repaired, taking up their role as a visual emblem of the airport for almost one more decade.
The choice of this installation was not random. From the beginning of the trilogies directed by Peter Jackson, Wellington became the operational heart of the Tolkien universe in the cinema. The productions of “The Lord of the Rings” y “The hobbit” They not only placed New Zealand on the world film map, but contributed billions of dollars to the local economy, mainly through direct tourism and employment during the 15 years that the filming and postproduction process lasted.
The company behind the sculptures, Wotta Workshopmade tens of thousands of pieces for movies. Its headquarters is located in Miramar, an isthmus close to the airport where Peter Jackson himself also resides.
The withdrawal of the Eagles does not imply, however, a complete separation with that imaginary. Clarke anticipated that WēTā Workshop is preparing a new exhibition for the airport, which will be presented before the end of the year. Without giving more details about its content or approach, the announcement suggests a change of style, although not necessarily a definitive cut with the cinematographic legacy.
“The airport does not lose its peculiar side”said Clarke, in an attempt to calm the fears of the nostalgic.
The decision to disassemble the sculptures was not well received by all. Several travelers expressed their bewilderment and sadness when they learned of imminent retirement. In addition, the company responsible for sculptures, Wētā Workshop, consolidated itself as one of the most recognized visual effects and useful houses in the world.
