Secrets of the Museum - Series 2

Episode
Episode One - Jacob Jordaens: Renaissance Watercolours
Broadcast Info
2021 (59 mins)
Description
Inside every museum is a hidden world, and now cameras have been allowed back behind the scenes at the world-famous Victoria and Albert Museum in London. And although many of us have had to stay away over the last year, in the V&A’s workshops and storerooms, the work has continued to conserve some of the two million wonders in the museum’s collection. Only a small part of the museum’s collection is ever on display. But in this series, we go behind closed doors to explore all the treasures of art, design and performance the museum has to offer. We follow experts and conservators at work in this treasure trove of the nation’s favourite objects, as they breathe new life into fragile marvels, uncover hidden stories, and work tirelessly to keep the past alive for all of us. This week, we join Theatre and Performance keeper Geoff, who has just taken delivery of a rare survivor from one of pop’s most flamboyant periods... An eye-popping red lurex suit, belonging to bass player Jim Lea, from Slade - one of biggest bands of the 1970s glam rock era, and as famous for their outlandish outfits as for their music. During a recent clear-out of his attic, Jim Lea discovered a suitcase full of old touring gear, including the red lurex and velvet suit he’s now donating to the museum. But before the suit can join the Rock and Pop collection, it needs to be checked over by conservator Jo. The fragile suit is showing signs of its rock and roll past, and Jo must carefully mend the rips in the delicate lurex before it can join the collection. Born in the Black Country, Jo grew up listening to Slade and wants to make sure she gets the lurex suit looking its best, before Jim Lea comes in to see it restored to its former glory. A classically-trained musician, Jim recounts how his mother always wanted him to play in an orchestra, and never really forgave him for becoming a rock star. But when his glam rock suit joins the collection, Jim asks for a special photo for his 95-year-old mum, who has finally accepted Jim’s rock career, now he has his suit in the V&A. When the museum first went into lockdown, curator Peta and conservator Victoria rushed a number of precious items into the cold store, for fear that if temperatures rose when the museum was closed they might melt. Now, after five months, it’s finally safe to bring a 500-year-old wax modelled by the great Renaissance master Michelangelo out of hibernation. Due to the innate instability of wax, very few such models have survived from the Renaissance. This Michelangelo model, made as a template for a much larger sculpture, is one of the greatest treasures of the V&A, but moving an ancient object made of brittle wax needs to be done with the utmost care. Once safely back in the gallery, Peta and Victoria need to carefully inspect the wax, before it can be placed back on display, but it isn’t long before they find something on one of the buttocks that takes them both by surprise. For many the Renaissance conjures up images of great oil paintings from Michelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci, but curator Elania is working on a display revealing that watercolours, not oil, were often the medium of choice in the period. As part of the display, Elania wants to include a watercolour by a Flemish master that hasn’t been shown for over a century - Christ, St Paul and the Theological Virtues, by Jacob Jordaens. It’s a preparatory drawing for a much larger oil painting intended for a church in Antwerp. However, when inspecting the painting close up, Elania discovers that the surface is covered in white dots. Unless conservator Alan can remove the white dots in time for the exhibition, the Flemish master may remain unseen by the public for many more years to come. Before the pandemic struck, the V&A opened an exhibition celebrating the national dress of Japan - kimono. One piece that didn’t make it in time for the opening has just arrived. Curator Josephine and keeper Anna want to get it ready, so it can join the exhibition when it goes on tour. The kimono is the work of Serge Mouangue, a contemporary Cameroon-born designer known for his innovative fusions of West African and Japanese style. But before the kimono can go on its world tour, it must be displayed on a mannequin according to the V&A strict standards. Mannequin dresser Gesa has to quickly learn the intricate skill of dressing a kimono and perfecting the complex tying of the obi - the knotted sash around the middle. Once the V&A feel it’s ready for the display they must get approval from designer Serge. The designer’s first reaction is a nerve-wracking time for the team.
Genre
History; Culture; Art & Design

How to cite this record

The Open University, "Secrets of the Museum - Series 2". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ou/search/index.php/prog/239581 (Accessed 10 Jan 2025)