The Ik Ook steel sculpture (pictured), made in 1971-72 by Chinese-born American sculptor Mark di Suvero, is set to be pulled apart and cleaned up once the tender closes on October 21. Tender documents state the sculpture's paint is highly degraded and largely missing from top surfaces, while the lower sections of the work have been damaged due to physical interaction by the public.

The art work, located in the Sculpture Garden and standing 8.5 metres high and 13.3 metres long has scratches on its base and corrosion on its edges.

A National Gallery of Australia spokeswoman said the conservation was done with all sculptures, even those not outside. "It's part of a progressive conservation maintenance program," she said.