Tackling the Lux Limitations of Fine Art Photography.

Fine art photography has become an object of significant interest within the art and collectors market.  Sales results over the past decade attest to the expansive growth of the art form, not to mention its increasing value, especially for works by a well-known roster of photographers. While the images of fine art photography continue to inform and inspire, the medium’s fragile nature is much less familiar to collectors.

AXA Art is directing its resources to help address photography’s unique preservation issues.  During Art Basel, in a presentation aptly titled ‘Fading Away at Art Basel 2011’, the art insurance specialist will serve up examples of how prolonged exposure to light impacts the quality and life span of photographs.  The demonstration will be on view at the AXA Art Lounge within the VIP section of the fair.

“Ultimately, proper care determines the life of a collection”, remarked AXA Art’s Global CEO, Dr. Ulrich Guntram.  “At AXA Art, our goal is to continue to share essential caveats and promote preventative measures to support collectors as they seek to protect the value and longevity of their art and collectibles”, he noted.

As part of its contribution to explore and define conditions which best protect the objects in a collection, AXA Art announced last fall its collaboration with Le Centre de Recherché sur la Conservation des collections (CRCC).  Together they will make available an improved device to estimate the amount of light on photographs while on display and indicate overexposure.  AXA Art will make the device available to its clients and partners at completion of its production.

“The best defense in safeguarding the value and longevity of photographic collections is to take the appropriate measures to protect the art from known hazardous conditions. Overexposure to light is among the most destructive risk to this art form”, the specialist art insurer cautions.

Art Basel 42 takes place from June 15-19, 2011.  As associate sponsor of the fair, AXA Art maintains a presence in the Collector’s Lounge in the VIP section of the fair, where the company hosts collectors, art dealers, brokers, designers, curators, art advisors, journalists and other guests.  Visitors are invited to interact with the company’s senior management and in-house experts, who will be on hand to assist in addressing questions on using art insurance products and services to protect and care for collections.

To continue the conversation on enhancing the collecting and ownership experience of photographic collectors, AXA Art joins the CRCC at Art Salon this year for a conversation on the exhibition of light sensitive objects. 

Art Salon:   June 18th at 1:00 p.m.  Hall 1

‘Display of Art:  Calm, Voluptuous but Lux limitations’ 

A Conversation on the Exhibition of Light Sensitive Objects

Bertrand Lavédrine Director of the CRCC

Dr. Stefan Horsthemke, Managing Director AXA Art Germany