Last weekend saw the 11th European Registrars Conference take place in London, 20 years since the city last hosted the event. Several members from our team were in attendance and relished the opportunity to catch-up with colleagues, clients and industry influencers old and new. The conference’s themes, ‘Evolve, Refresh, Collaborate’, aimed to discuss the evolution of the sector over the last 20 years and look ahead to the many more beyond. Sessions ranged from panel discussions and practical demonstrations to presentations on projects of redevelopment, museum decants, packing and international collaboration.
News
15
Nov
Nov
Last night saw the second Hepworth Prize awarded to worthy winner, Cerith Wyn Evans. As proud sponsors of the Prize we were honoured to be in attendance at the Museum of the Year 2017 and hear from those involved in the award, as well as this year’s nominees. The prize itself is particularly dear to us as a company as the story of its origins and that of contemporary sculpture in Yorkshire is so intertwined with the story of Mtec and its growth over the last 25 years.Continue Reading…
12
Nov
Nov
Mtec were contacted by long-standing colleagues Rupert Harris Conservation to assist in the relocation of Malcolm Robertson’s ‘The Railway Tree’ as part of the ongoing regeneration of Stratford Town Centre. Commissioned in 1996 as part of the Stratford City challenge the piece has had numerous episodes of renewed relevance throughout its life, especially with launch of Stratford International station and the hosting of London 2012.
02
Nov
Nov
With the approach of the Armistice Centenary, Mtec have had the opportunity to give back to a dear charity in remembrance of fallen serviceman. Our installation team visited Great Ormond Street Hospital and assisted in the respositioning to a more prominent site of a bronze commemorative plaque in honour of fallen colleagues of the hospital in both WW1 and WW2.
This struck an extremely personal chord with Mtec founder, Dave Williams, who’s grandfather served with the British Expeditionary Force as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps in WW2 at Dunkirk, assisting the fallen and injured both at the battle and, when captured by the Germans, behind enemy lines. To be able to donate time and resources to such a honourable and poignant project, especially during our 25th Anniversary year, was a real joy and we hope that the plaque will get the attention it truly deserves in its new location within the hospital.
10
Apr
Apr
As part of our #25yearsofmtec celebrations, where we are looking back over some of our favourite projects, we are looking at the relocation and installation of one of Barry Flanagan’s momentus hare sculptures. Barry Flanagan has been a very important part of Mtec’s history and one of the artists whom we have worked with most consistently throughout our 25 years. We continue to work extremely closely with his estate and the installation of ‘Acrobats’ is testament to this.Continue Reading…
03
Apr
Apr
Our Art Fair team have just returned from another successful Art Basel Hong Kong, where we have been overseeing the shipment and installation of works for a number of galleries. As per the other major fairs we attend, the Mtec team were on site to provide shipping estimates to aid client sales, to assist with dispersal at the end of the fair and look after the de-install and return shipment of works to the UK. During the fair we had the pleasure of being able to visit some of the stunning booths as well as pop-up events around the city, including watching legendary Chinese performance artist the Frog King (Kwok Mango-Ho) write exhibition-goers names in Chinese at the 10 Chancery Lane Gallery booth.
We are looking forward to continuing our work at art fairs throughout 2018 and will be attending the following over the Spring/Summer:Continue Reading…
19
Mar
Mar
With our new Gallery Services facility up and running, we have grasped the opportunity presented by art handling and technical resource, Art Tech Space, to host one of their events. On Wednesday 21st March at 6:30pm we’ll be opening the doors to our Enfield warehouse to host ‘Behind the Art with Mtec’. ‘Behind the Art’ gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the workings of an art warehouse and the opportunity to learn about the work Mtec carry out directly from our Director of Gallery Services, Paul Embleton.
Entry to the event is by ticket only and includes time for informal chat and questions. All in attendance will be required to sign a non-disclosure upon entry into the warehouse.
You can get your ticket here.
11
Mar
Mar
As we progress through our 25th Anniversary year, we will be looking back at some of the most groundbreaking, poignant and technically challenging installations of our history.
10 years on Sir Anthony Caro’s installation, Chapel of Light, at the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Bourbourg remains just as poignant and dramatic. Situated in the previously concealed choir of the church, Caro’s series of stunning sculptures were conceived as a memorial in honour of the friendship and support experienced between Britain and France during WW2.
Firstly, struck by an artillery shell and secondly, hit by the flaming tail of a crashing German bomber, the bell tower collapsed in an inferno Continue Reading…
16
Jan
Jan
We’re half way through January and 2018 is already flying by. Here at Mtec HQ we are looking forward to the year ahead and the innovative developments we already have in the pipeline, specifically with our Artfair and Gallery Services teams. We are also excited to announce that we will be opening an additional warehouse complex 11 miles from the centre of Cambridge taking our total warehouse capacity to 160,000 sq ft in the UK with an additional 15,000 sq ft internationally.
Our growing team of specialised artfair technicians and registrars will be attending 7 art fairs and servicing a further 11 in 2018. We will be working at the fairs as well as various satellite projects and exhibitions, this also includes the utilisation of our bespoke viewing facilities. We are able to work alongside our clients in the planning, preparation, transport and installation of works, assisting with FCL and LCL sea and air freights and Customs formalities. If you have an enquiry regarding your art fair requirements for this year please get in touch.
During 2017 we have also expanded our dedicated Gallery Services team, drawing on over 25 years of experience working with major galleries and museums around the globe. We have created a standalone department and facility which will provide our clients with exciting and unique possibilities throughout the coming year. Our London warehouse, where the team are based, is proud to house the largest dedicated fine-art viewing rooms in the UK and we are looking forward to working on some groundbreaking installations and exhibitions this year.
We pride ourselves on working with our clients and colleagues on some of the most challenging and complex jobs in the industry, if you have an installation, shipment or project which you would like to ask us about please drop us an email (info@mtecfreightgroup.com) or call our Ware offices (+44 [0] 1920 461 800) and one of our project managers will contact you as soon as possible.
Throughout the month we will be going into further detail about plans in these departments on our news page so make sure you are following us on social media or check in on our blog.
We hope that 2018 is set to be as successful, exciting and rewarding as 2017 and look forward to working with you over the coming months.
Here’s to a productive 2018 for all!
21
Dec
Dec
This year we wish to thank our clients, supporters and colleagues for making 2017 a year of further success, exciting developments and strengthened partnerships. As 2018 approaches, as in previous years, we start to reflect on the endeavours and achievements of the last 12 months. Over the year we have seen growth and innovation in our dedicated art fair and gallery services teams. A success which we hope to build upon in the New Year, continuing to cement our position as one of the frontrunners in our field.
This year has also seen us build on our existing relationships with continued support for projects and institutions which have played a key part in Mtec’s history, Continue Reading…
14
Dec
Dec
Perhaps one of the most challenging installations of 2017 is now complete. After 3 months of 13 hour days, our team of 8 specialist technicians returned from Abu Dhabi having installed Jenny Holzer’s monumental commission ‘For Louvre Abu Dhabi’.
The artwork, comprises of 328 panels, with a combined weight of over 118 tonnes and requires an extreme level of accuracy in installation; Continue Reading…
29
Nov
Nov
This week we’ll be accepting delivery of the latest vehicle to join our inventory: the IVECO 440-570 heavy haulage tractor for abnormal and heavy loads. It is equipped with the latest environmental technology including emission standard control EUO 6, compliant with the Inner London Low emission zone. It also carries the latest safety standard specification for TFL cycle safety initiative, with side and rear camera system, cyclist sensor units and Red-Amber- Green traffic light warnings for cyclists and pedestrians, with proximity warning to driver and audible warning for cyclists on the busy London streets.Continue Reading…
27
Nov
Nov
Team Mtec recently headed to Fundación Proa, Buenos Aires to install Ai Weiwei’s ‘Forever Bicycles’ as part of his first major South American retrospective. The retrospective, curated by Marcello Dantas, includes a number of iconic installations, sculptures, photographs and videos exploring social, economic and political inconsistencies, themes commonly broached in Weiwei’s work.
The exhibition is part of a collaboration between the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (CCBB), Fundación Proa and Ternium, Organización Techint and also includes a program of talks and activities during its duration.
Ai Weiwei @ Fundación Proa runs until the end Feb 2018, more details can be found at their website here
17
Nov
Nov
Mtec have recently been tasked with the collection from Pangolin Editions of a new bronze cast of the iconic sculpture ‘Physical Energy’ by G. F. Watts. The fabrication and installation of the work marks a return to its original placing in the courtyard of the Royal Academy, London, 113 years after it was first in situ in 1904.Continue Reading…
