As the NGV’s head of conservation, Michael Varcoe-Cocks is well-versed in the intricacies of transporting irreplaceable works of art halfway across the world.

“First, the work must be approved for travel, so the conservators from Boston assess and approve each work. They prepare a report that documents the condition of the artwork, noting any cracks or risks. That report travels with the artwork so we can assess if there’s been any changes after travel,” says Michael.

Once approved for air travel, each work is prepared by specialist packers who put the artwork into a travel frame, which is then wrapped and placed in a museum-standard wooden crate. That crate then goes into another crate before the artwork is transported to the airport for its journey.

“The inside crate is suspended in foam to absorb vibrations. It’s quite a complex system, but it’s a well-documented way to safely transport art around the world,” Michael says.

The sturdy crates protect from physical damage as well as creating a microclimate to protect the art from humidity and temperature fluctuations. Flight routes are selected to minimise these variations but it’s not an exact science.

“We’re trying to move incredibly valuable, fragile and culturally important artworks from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere without changing their environment at all,” says Michael, who adds that the art is always supervised by a team of art professionals and security staff while in transit.

Installing icons

Upon arrival into Australia, specialist art transit trucks fitted with climate control and air ride suspension ensure a smooth ride to the gallery.

Although it must be tempting to open the newly arrived artworks like a child excitedly unwrapping presents on Christmas morning, the team must exercise a degree of restraint.

“Once the artworks arrive in crates, we don’t immediately open them. We allow them a period of acclimatisation…usually a few days,” Michael explains.

When the artworks are eventually unpacked, conservators carefully inspect each piece to complete a full analysis. Any changes to the artwork are recorded in a condition report. It’s at this stage that many staff members are seeing the art in person for the first time.