On the Mend

We chatted with our chosen conservators Foley Schalkx to find out more about repairing Banksy prints…

What issues do you see with Banksy prints?

The most common issues we see are inappropriate tapes and adhesives, creases and planar distortions.

How do you fix them?

Depending on the tapes present, we might use a range of different tools, materials and techniques – from the application of liquid solvents and poultices to mechanical techniques involving small amounts of heat or moisture.

Is there any damage that's impossible to fix?

We occasionally come across issues that can’t be treated. For instance, not all stains can be reduced: either because the stain itself cannot be solubilized using the techniques at our disposal, or because the media of the artwork or the paper on which it is executed is also sensitive to the potential treatment methods available. There are also circumstances that make mechanical damage very difficult to improve if an artwork has an area of local damage but is adhered overall to a rigid support and cannot be released for example.

With Banksy prints, we sometimes find a slight colour-differential at the edges of prints that have previously been window mounted. This relates to uneven light exposure over time – the paper tone at the edge of the artwork is typically the original paper tone, and not something that we would 'lighten' to match the faded paper tone.

How can I ensure my Banksy stays in perfect condition?

In the long term, it’s impossible to keep art in the same condition as when it was first made, but there are things you can do to minimise the influence of environmental conditions.

First and foremost, make sure the frame your print is in protects the piece rather than damages it. A good frame should incorporate Japanese paper hinges and Japanese wheat starch paste or methyl cellulose with 100% cotton rag mountboard to mount the artwork, as well as 99% UV-filtering glazing. The glass should not touch the print and the frame should be sturdy enough to withstand slight knocks and bumps.

We tend to recommend 'float-mounting', so that the artwork is evenly exposed to visible light and therefore less susceptible to issues developing unevenly over time. Good quality framing isn't cheap but from a conservation perspective, the money is well worth it.

Are any Banksy's particularly hard to restore?

Funnily enough some of Banksy's prints on higher quality papers (such as Arches 88) can be trickier to treat than some of the ones on 'cheaper' papers. This is because the paper is extremely sensitive to water, which means that if there is discolouration or staining it can't be removed using washing or other wet treatments. And Flags, which is printed on chromolux paper, also tends to present challenges as it’s difficult to flatten.

How much should I expect my restoration to cost?

We generally find that the treatment of Banksy prints comes in at between two and a half and five hours (£200 - £400 +VAT), though on occasion we'll come across prints that need significantly more work - for example if they have been dry-mounted using inappropriate materials.

For more information on restoring damaged Banksy prints, please get in touch…