Hidden art ought to be displayed

Many of the world’s great masterpieces rarely emerge from vaults. It is time this changed

Across the planet, in the storerooms and vaults of the great museums, artistic masterpieces are kept from public view. A recent survey by the American news organisation Quartz of 20 major museums in seven countries revealed that only 5 per cent of collections are on public display at any given time. The majority of Picassos’s oil paintings, for example, are in storage, as is most of Georgia O’Keeffe’s prodigious artistic output of American modernism.

The Quartz survey raises several questions about the role of museums in presenting artistic masterpieces. It is key to bear in mind that they generally put a higher priority on the preservation of art than its public presentation. For many private collectors, museums are temples of conservation. Donations are thus predicated on the ability of conservators to ensure the preservation of a given work. Preserving certain types of artistic mediums such as etchings necessitates that the works are not placed on permanent display, away from constant light and in the care of highly trained professionals.

Once works of art are donated to most large institutions, they become public goods. In turn, many museums don’t have the authority to move paintings to smaller museums or private investors that might be more likely to put them on public display. The result is that vaults and storerooms are overflowing with masterpieces.

Even if it were easy for museums to loan their works, the transportation of them is tricky business. The process is time consuming, difficult, expensive and in some cases, endangers the art.

Despite these challenges, the globalisation of art is a noble idea and more art should emerge from museum vaults to be enjoyed by the public. In Abu Dhabi we have an opportunity to advance this ideal with the opening of the Louvre and Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi. Not only will these institutions have ample space to display great works from their own collections, but we are also likely to see hidden works from the partner museums emerge from the darkness.