Here is an example of my repair of hanging artwork.
This collage, ‘The Symphony’ hangs in our embassy in Oslo, and several other US embassies worldwide. It is a famous 1990 mixed-media print by American artist Frank Stella. Created for the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies Program, this large abstract piece is an edition of 175 and is intricately printed using 23 lithographic plates and 5 screens.. It is so large and heavy – 7’ tall and 80 lbs. – that moving it when the embassy repaints the wall every so often, causes the hinges to rip apart.
Japanese acid-free paper 'hinges' are used to hang artwork within a mat which is usually made of acid-fee cotton fiber or wood pulp. A proper hinge has an even more important purpose. It is made to rip if handling or shipping creates any risk of damage to the artwork. The hinges are mostly found at the top and back of the artwork. Sometimes also on the sides for very heavy pieces such as this. The trick is to apply as few hinges as necessary.
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Hand-made Japanese papers are preferred because they are very thin, do not stretch, and easily rip. Hinges are applied with an acid-free and reversible adhesive. The application of the adhesive is tricky - too much softens the artwork surface and embosses the shape of even the thinnest hinge into the artwork.
