AIC's 51st Annual Meeting

Regular size Eastern painting and calligraphy can usually be treated on a conventional size red lacquered working table. However, for a silk painting that exceeds 2.4 meters in height, 66 meters in length, and weighs 32 kg, it is apparently impossible to carry out its treatments and backing, especially during the pandemic between 2020 and 2021.

How do arrange the practical working schedule to meet limited requirements for conservators and related team members, furthermore efficiently use the conservation lab space to complete the treatment, backing, and flattening of this super-sized artwork? A helpful and convenient large-scale working rack would be the best solution.

Our conservation team used an off-the-shelf industrial storage rack system and redesigned it according to the treatment requirements, and built a set of large-scale working racks for this giant painting conservation project. The set of artwork support makes this 66-meter long painting not only easy to roll and unroll but also able to be stepless control in adjusting treating sections. Therefore, while protecting the artwork, it also allows us to reduce the number of art handlers and comply with the government's pandemic regulations.

With three height-adjustable table tops, it can maximize the three-dimensional use of small working spaces, take condition pictures, and allow conservators to treat multiple fronts and backs locally during the same time. In addition, multiple adjustable bridges across the artwork are helpful for conservators to carry out treatments on top of the painting and complete two layers of Kozo paper backing. The final stage of drying and flattening on this racking set reduces the rent, air-conditioning costs, and environmental control expenses for a super-large space. This set of large working racks that can assemble and install repeatedly can ship to different locations for artwork treatment while necessary.