Plans for an impressive public art sculpture at a main gateway into Belfast have been unveiled.

The piece, named Rise, will be built at Broadway Roundabout by the artist Wolfgang Buttress and will stand at 123 ft high (37.5 metres) by 98.4ft wide (30 metres).

Globe shaped, the white and silver aluminium sculpture is said to represent a new sun rising to celebrate a new chapter in the history of Belfast.

Due for construction next year, it is anticipated the piece will be visible from several miles away.

The sculpture will be funded by Belfast City Council, the Department for Social Development and the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Following in the footsteps of Glasgow and Barcelona, which are renowned for their public art, Rise will be a landmark piece of art for Belfast, the largest structure of its kind in the city.

Wolfgang Buttress was selected after intense competition from more than 40 artists from Ireland, the United Kingdom and internationally.

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An experienced artist and sculptor from Birmingham, he has produced public art pieces for cities across the United Kingdom and has had exhibitions from as far away as Japan and the USA.

Lord Mayor Councillor Tom Hartley said: "More than two million vehicles travel past the roundabout at Broadway every month.

"This sculpture will be a welcoming beacon to Belfast for local people and tourists. It is symbolic of the revitalisation of Belfast and will be timeless."

Wolfgang Buttress said: "I am very pleased and honoured to be given the opportunity to create this new artwork for the people of Belfast. I am looking forward to forging new relationships and cementing existing ones.

"I hope that the symbol of the rising sun will be inspiring. This sculpture will work on many levels and will be appreciated both intimately and from afar."

The sculptor will now be encouraging input from local people living near the landmark sculpture.

He will be holding creative workshops with groups from the Greater Village and St James' areas of Belfast.

Belfast City Council said it has been leading on the plans for the new sculpture with strong support and funding from the Department for Social Development (Regeneration Directorate) and the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland as well as advice and assistance from DRD Roads Service.

This is the second such selection process to have taken place, as an earlier competition was held in 2005.

Artist Ed Carpenter won with his steel 'Trillian' sculpture, but the escalating cost of the raw material meant that it was decided to be no longer viable within the available budget of £400,000.

See: Council Launches Broadway Roundabout Sculpture Competition

(PR)(BMcC)