GERMANY, Hamburg. Katharina Raczek Design (KRD) has announced a collaboration with Germany-based Tilman Kriesel Art Advisors (TKA) to deliver unique art on superyacht projects and will be responsible for all aspects of an art installation.

“As an interior designer you get the opportunity to work with some really special pieces of art,” says Katharina Raczek, founder of KRD. “But incorporating high value art into your design comes down to more than just selecting the pieces and hanging them up.”

Katharina Raczek

Raczek explains that the installation of art on board is not as straightforward as one might think, with issues such as climate, lighting, insurance to transport and taxes, all adding a level of complexity to the process of installing art.

“Navigating customs and export regulations when transporting pieces to a shipyard, for example, involves significant knowledge of where a painting can be stored or even framed,” explains artist Astor Milan Salcedo, a partner at TKA. “Similarly, understanding how to mitigate exposure to light, humidity, movement and safety issues can protect these high value assets from expensive damage. It demands years’ worth of experience and expertise.”

Tilman Kriesel

Founded by art specialist Tilman Kriesel — who comes from a family familiar with collecting and working with galleries and museums — TKA’s extensive advisory experience ranges from acquisitions, commissioning and discrete handling of premium art works to security, insurance and installation.

Collaborating on a 100m-plus explorer refit, KRD and TKA are working on the concept for the art on board, including security systems suited to rough sea conditions and routine cleaning. The project will also see the installation of bespoke lighting solutions and sun-proof glass to protect art pieces from the damaging affects of direct sunlight.

 Astor Milan Salcedo

“If you know that there will be a sizeable art heritage painting then you know that a wall will need to be reinforced with steel to hang it safely,” explains Salcedo. “Often art is considered too late in the project but if the shipyard, design teams and art advisor were able to work together earlier, the owner’s collection could be incorporated in the best possible way.”

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