“One has become more sensitive”: Michael Beck on art theft, climate glue and the consequences

Created: 11/26/2022, 07:20

By: Katrin Hager

Deals with top-class works of art on a daily basis: Michael Beck, Chairman of the Board of the Gulbransson Society and gallery owner by trade.

© Thomas Plettenberg

Thieves rob a Celtic treasure, climate activists attack works of art: security in museums has come into focus.

We spoke to Michael Beck about the consequences in Tegernsee's Gulbransson Museum.

Tegernsee

– Thieves steal a million-dollar gold treasure of unique historical value from the museum, climate activists stick themselves to picture frames in art museums or pour mashed potatoes and tomato soup over the works of art: the museums and their treasures seem to be in their sights as seldom.

How do you prepare?

And what's up?

We asked Michael Beck about that.

The renowned gallery owner is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gulbransson Society and curator of the current special exhibition “From Renoir to Jawlensky – Collected with Passion” with top-class works by artists such as Beckmann, Gauguin, Münter and Kandinsky.

Mr Beck, Bavaria's Minister of Art, Markus Blume, sees the Manching coin robbery as a wake-up call for Bavaria's museums.

Has the wake-up call at the Gulbransson Museum come through yet?

Michael Beck: "Our safety has been checked, we belong to the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

Our standards are great, so we don't need to upgrade.

There is always a risk of someone stealing something, even in galleries.

But it's not so easy to sell a picture, which is why theft of pictures has also fallen dramatically.

The gold coins from Manching will probably be melted down and used in this way.

Art collectors who say they want that one painting and then it gets stolen - that's a myth.

And taking the risk of breaking in with the alarm system and the police, who are informed immediately, and driving out of the valley with the picture – you would have to deal with that first, it’s not that easy.”

Could there be a lot more to do with the security concept?

Michael Beck: “Of course you can always do more.

We could put 24-hour security in the museum.

But that would go beyond our scope.”

This Sunday, November 27, 2022, admission is free for district citizens.

Is such an action an additional risk?

Michael Beck: “No, we now have a supervisor.

That wasn't necessary when the special exhibitions here were worth 50,000 euros.

But with our current values ​​in the millions, the visitor is never alone.

I am also indebted to the lenders who are friends of mine.

Every visitor is greeted when entering the exhibition rooms.

It's not about surveillance, it's about being able to ask someone.

But people also know: I have to behave here.”

Keyword climate adhesive?

Michael Beck: "If someone comes in wanting to damage something, you can't rule that out.

We can only do our best to prevent it.”

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Have the lenders become more nervous as a result of these incidents?

Michael Beck: “Fortunately not with us.

So far nobody wanted to return a work prematurely.

If someone sticks to the frame, that's not ok either, but it would still be bearable.

But if someone spills tomato soup on an oil painting without a glass pane, it would be really violent.

You can clean that too.

But it would be difficult to find lenders for future exhibitions if the collectors say: Tomato soup was poured onto your picture.

People are checked at reception, including bags.

We already have an eye on that.

Instructions came immediately after these cases from the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

You have become more sensitive.

I think they will look for something else for their protest.”

The special exhibition has already passed the 10,000 visitor mark.

Are you content?

Michael Beck: “The exhibition is going extremely well.

The response is also very good.

People are surprised at what they see here.

We have scheduled the day with free entry for district citizens because we see that only a small part of the visitors come from the region, many are tourists or day trippers.

Luckily we have a district administrator who sees the appeal of a museum like this.

We want to be a museum for the locals.”

The Gulbransson Museum in Tegernsee is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (December 31 to 2 p.m., closed on December 24 and 25 and on January 1).

Entry normally costs twelve euros.

This Sunday, November 27, 2022, district citizens have free admission.

The special exhibition runs until January 8th.