95% Invisible: The Art of Storage

Most of the best collections of art and artefacts are out of sight. In fact, on average, more than 95% of objects held by museums are in storage rather than on display. The same is true of private collections. Behind the scenes, objects and artworks are carefully packed, stored, and archived in increasingly sophisticated ways. What can we learn from these sometimes fascinating and sometimes obscure sites of storage? For the first time, VAH4485 will make use of extensive technology in the exhibition space. Visitors to the exhibition will use an audioguide and augmented reality to explore the world of museum and collection storage. They will be transported to locations as diverse as a nuclear waste storage facility, an art packing and storage company, and a “Freeport” in Geneva where many of the world’s art treasures are held in a tax haven. “95% Invisible: The Art of Storage” will pull back the curtain on how objects are cared for, maintained, and occasionally warehoused in “deep storage,” never to be seen again.