"In matters like this, we must listen to the experts who have been preserving the work for 30 years. Their reports are clear and advise against moving the piece due to the risks involved. Celebrating the 90th anniversary of Gernika should also mean ensuring that this work can last another 90 years. My obligation is to preserve this heritage."
"The conservation report states that moving the work could cause new cracks, lifting, and loss of the paint layer, as well as tears. In certain dark areas of the painting, extensive networks of micro-cracks are also visible, affecting large sections of the work."
"Another example of losses is found at the top edge of the canvas, where paint losses reveal the white ground layer beneath."
"It would be a serious political mistake to close the door on this issue."
The Spanish culture ministry rejected a request from the Basque government to loan Picasso's Guernica for an exhibition at Guggenheim Bilbao. The exhibition was planned to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the first Basque government and the bombing of Gernika. Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun emphasized the importance of preserving the painting, citing expert reports that warned against moving it due to potential damage. A conservation report indicated risks such as cracks and paint loss, leading to the ministry's decision to prioritize the artwork's longevity.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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