What happens when artworks are moved?

When a work of art goes on tour, safety is a crucial factor. After all, the slightest mistake could cause irreparable damage. That's why artworks are packed very carefully for travel.

Special mounts and packaging ensure that the artwork cannot be damaged. Security services guard it during transport, and real-time data tachograph analysis can be used to track its route.

A trip needs to be well planned

Every company specializing in art transport prides itself on meticulous transport planning. This isn't just for the fun of packing. The transport of fragile items, in particular, requires careful planning.

This begins with dismantling and packing the artwork. Then, a route and timeframe for transport must be chosen. For example, roads are clear at night, allowing for transport with fewer obstacles.

Challenges in art transport: the example of Max Beckmann

Transporting paintings by Max Beckmann in climate-controlled crates is a demanding, large-scale undertaking. These artworks, worth millions, must be moved safely from one museum to another – a task that requires specialized logistics.

It is essential to ensure that the artworks are optimally protected and climate-controlled during transport to preserve their unique beauty and quality. Such an undertaking requires the utmost precision and care to guarantee that the valuable paintings arrive at their destination undamaged.

Restorer talks about extensive planning and preparations

Eva Bartsch , a conservator of modern and contemporary art, completed her training in Berlin and Vienna before taking the plunge into self-employment four years ago and settling in Zurich. The hosts of the KAP Podcast about art, culture, and architecture spoke with Eva about artworks that go on tour.

Long before a work of art is presented in an exhibition, preparations must be made and clarifications obtained. What challenges arise when packing and transporting artworks, and how is an exhibition set up?

The best way to travel

The first question is the mode of transport. If the distances are too great, then airplanes or ships must be used. Traveling by ship is more peaceful, but if time is of the essence, then air travel is necessary.

The quietest way to travel is by rail, followed by shipping. Within Germany, however, road transport will likely be the most common mode of transport. Road transport is the most flexible and cost-effective.

Insurance before transport

Even with meticulous transport planning, unforeseen problems can always arise. Therefore, transport insurance is advisable. General insurance for artwork does not always cover transport.

Transport insurance is more expensive per day, but it only needs to be taken out for the duration of the transport.

Secured by good mounting

Once the formal preparations , the transport itself begins with the loading of the artwork. To prevent damage during the journey, the art must be carefully packed. For example, vibrations during transport can cause paint pigments to break off in paintings.

Sculptures damage from vibrations. Specially designed packaging materials provide cushioning during transport. The simplest example is bubble wrap. Stronger vibrations can be absorbed by rubber vibration dampers.

Vibrations are not the only problem for artworks during travel. Sunlight attacks color pigments and other materials. Incorrect atmospheric conditions are also harmful. Consequently, it is necessary to control the climate during transport and ensure protection from light.

For this purpose, there are climate-controlled boxes and even entire vans with integrated air conditioning. Values ​​such as humidity and temperature are monitored.

Never lose sight of his treasure

Once the journey has begun, it's useful to know how it's progressing. To ensure the artwork's location is always known, it can be tracked using modern GPS . The mobile network allows for continuous monitoring of the transport's position and speed. This helps, among other things, to verify that the drivers are driving carefully enough.

Additionally, intervention is possible in an emergency, even before the drivers have time to report it. In most cases, however, GPS tracking will operate in the background, supplementing existing security measures. Should the transported goods actually be stolen, GPS tracking allows the thieves to be traced.

Better safe than sorry

Art thefts happen all too often. Although the thieves are usually caught, the stolen piece is often lost forever. It can take years for a work of art to reappear in a collection, and pieces made of precious metals are frequently melted down and sold by unscrupulous thieves . These kinds of idiots couldn't care less about the historical and cultural value of an exhibit.

It is therefore advisable to have your artwork monitored by security services . Unfortunately, many security services are now infiltrated by criminal organizations. However, with a few simple tricks, it is possible to identify a reliable security service. This includes, among other things, looking at the security provider's history.

Additionally, it's helpful to keep an eye on the security personnel assigned to you. As the client, you become the guardian of the guardians.

Price alone does not determine quality

Monitoring the security guards is a crucial part of organizing an art transport. If there isn't a long-standing, trusting relationship with the transport company, the client must remain constantly vigilant. All aspects of the transport must be checked. Without proactive monitoring, even the most expensive premium security services can disappoint.

Most of the time everything goes well

The vast majority of art transports proceed without incident. However, since these are valuable and irreplaceable objects, investing time and money transport

Ultimately, one wants to be able to enjoy one's art in the future as well.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de

You might also be interested in:

Storage options for artists: Self-storage as an extension of the studio. Transporting expensive artworks safely during a move: How collectors and galleries protect their exhibits. Packing and transporting artworks safely – How to make the move a success . Art transport through the ages: How Marie Antoinette's legacy finds its way into the digital age. Getting started in art: What aspiring collectors need to know before their first art purchase.