Page 33 - The MoMA/ Guggenheim issue of World of Art magazine (2003)

MODeRNA MUSeeT’S BUiLDiNG CLOSeD

FOR ReNOVATiON – NeW ADDReSS iN

CeNTRAL STOCKHOLM c/o KLARABeRGSViADUKTeN 61
MODeRNA MUSeeT
THe BUiLDiNG AT SKePPSHOLMeN

After comprehensive investigations and analyses in autumn 2001, it was confirmed that
the building, inaugurated in 1998, housing Moderna Museet was suffering from serious
structural and environmental problems. The primary sources for these concerns where
linked to the building’s highly advanced ventilation system combined with penetration of
moisture from the bedrock on which the museum is lies. As a result, the National Property
Board made the decision to close the building in January 2002.

Moderna Museet’s new temporary quarters opened on June 15th at Klarabergsviadukten
61, next door to the Central Station and the Airport Bus Terminal. Despite the fact that
we were forced to close the museum building, we are delighted about what has happened
since. Uncertainty and chance can also be fun and enriching! The situation put the staff
members’ as well as my own creativity to the test; and we will certainly profit from our
experiences when we move back into our healthy building on the islet of Skeppsholmen
at the turn of the year 2003/2004.

A variety of exhibitions will be shown at Klarabergsviadukten 61. Here visitors also
can find our photo library, educational workshop, bookshop and venues for seminars or
discussions. Our visitors can relax with a cup of coffee or a meal in our new restaurant
MM Mat with its view overlooking Stockholm’s busy center.

This summer, we are showing a selection of our newest acquisitions. Though the
museum is continually involved in purchasing art, it’s not always that the works can be
immediately exhibited. Many of the works shown this summer are on display for the fist
time at the museum. in mid-August, we will commence our “Odd Weeks”, rotating new
exhibitions by well-known artists every other week. Moderna Museet will also pop up
here and there within Sweden and across the world under the name ”Moderna Museet
c/o”. We’ll be rather nomadic for a while.

in addition to our program of exhibitions; our offices, conservation studios, carpentry
workshop, photo studio and all the other behind the scenes operations required to run the
museum are also relocated at Klarabergsviadukten 61. This is our base for the moment, but
it is temporary and will not replace our ordinary museum building. Our content is different
here. For instance, our collection of classics will not be shown at Klarabergsviadukten.
We have instead, offered other Swedish institutions access to the greater part of the
collection. in this way, we hope the general public will continue to have access to and
enjoy these works of art.

Although the move and the events around it have been involuntary, this period will be
of great importance and uniquely challenging in Moderna Museet’s history. We hope that
we along side our public, will remember this time as an invaluable experience.
Welcome to Moderna Museet c/o!

WORLD of ART 31