HANDLE WITH CARE
Shaping and replacement of a part for the handle of a metal and plastic suitcase from the 80s.
I D E N T I F I C A T I O N
This suitcase, entitled Tours 1983, belongs to a group of suitcases known as Grenzeloze Inhoud (Unlimited Content) - an art project launched in 1983 by the Ministerie van Welzijn, Volksgezondheid en Cultuur. This project was planned as a travelling exhibition of 12 suitcases, designed by the Rotterdam designer John de Besten. The artists were limited by the predefined size of the suitcase (85 x 65 x 27 cm), its materials (a metal frame and a transparent plastic sheet), and a general theme: travel. For his suitcase, Michael Gibbs focused on concrete and visual poetry. The suitcase is completely empty, he shot it five times, leaving bullet marks in the yellowed plastic.
O B J E C T I V E
Although one might think otherwise, the handle was not deliberately destroyed by the artist. This was caused by mishandling. The aim is to treat the handle in order to restore the visual unity of the artwork and tobe able to exhibit it again with the other 11 suitcases.
I N T E R V E N T I O N
Once the entire artwork had been dusted and the paint consolidated in places, the handle could be removed from the suitcase. This step was as delicate as it was necessary to straighten the remaining parts of the destroyed handle. Once detached, the base of the parts could be flattened and the whole piece straightened out with a little pressure. Finally, two new pieces were created to replace the missing central part. This restoration was possible thanks to a thorough understanding of the manufacturing method of the case and the materials used to make it. The pieces created to replace the central part were made of aluminium and then a layer of zinc-based paint was sprayed on their surface, as was done on the original pieces. A piece of Red Meranti wood was used to reinforce the inside of the handle. This same wood could be seen on the other 11 cases in the same series.
E X P O S I T I O N
The art project Grenzeloze Inhoud was renewed with the exhibition of all 12 suitcases from 23 January to 25 July 2021 at Museum Het Schip, Amsterdam. A total of 4 suitcases were restored by me for this exhibition.
