Lindy Lee’s $14 million Ouroboros sculpture has been unveiled at the National Gallery of Australia.

The four-metre high, and approximately 13 tonne immersive steel sculpture, was unveiled by the artist on 24 October.

With a practice spanning more than four decades, Lee was commissioned to create the work to celebrate NGA’s 40th anniversary in 2022.

Based on the ancient symbol of a snake eating its tail, people will be able to enter the ‘mouth’ and walk into the curved space to experience darkness that is illuminated by light beams emanating from the hundreds of thousands of perforations on its surface.

Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn and arts minister Tony Burke were guest speakers at the unveiling.

The NGA is also staging an exhibition of Lee’s work, which can be viewed from 25 October.

“Similarly to Ouroboros, the exhibition at the National Gallery will be a meditative experience for audiences,” Lee said.

On 28 October, the gallery will also put on show a more than 50-kilogram pure ABC Bullion Australian gold maquette titled Abundance Lee also worked on.