"We presented Gianpietro Carlesso's mammoth, monumental work Torre di Saba (2009) at Frieze Sculpture in 2020. It weighs over 200kg and stands an imposing 268cm high, but the artist wanted the piece to be one with the nature that surrounds it, so he chose to not present it on a traditional plinth. Mtec, who handle the logistics for Frieze Sculpture, had to dig a hole, pour a concrete base in and add hidden pins, then put topsoil and new turf to match the surroundings of the park and hide the concrete. It required a structural engineer for the foundations and wind-load calculations. To install it were three technicians plus Carlesso and me, and the equipment included a lorry-mounted crane, a mini digger, a telehandler and a wacker plate [to compact the soil]. To complicate matters further, installation was done on a heavy rainy day! But by the end, the Lebanese tree wood of the sculpture really felt as if it grew out of the ground-a"
"Behind the scenes, the entire fair operates like a carefully choreographed performance, juggling tight schedules, co-ordinating countless moving parts and adapting to last-minute changes, often working through the night and into the early hours of the morning to ensure every artwork has its moment to shine."
Art fairs appear serene to visitors but rely on intensive behind-the-scenes logistics and technical coordination. Operations require tight scheduling, rapid adaptation to last-minute changes, and overnight work to meet deadlines. Challenges include late shipments, extreme weather, difficult environments, large-scale works, intricate installations and artists finalising pieces at the last minute. Complex sculptures can need structural engineers, wind-load calculations, heavy machinery, and specialized crews. Site-sensitive solutions such as buried foundations, hidden pins, topsoil and turf can be used to integrate works with surroundings. Successful installs balance technical rigor with aesthetic intention to make artworks appear seamless within the venue.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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