Preventive conservation and maintenance inspections of artworks and installations can be complicated in the case of large works, such as the backdrop Dalí designed for the ballet Labyrinth, located beneath the dome of the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres.

A large-scale intervention

The spectacular size of this work, which spans 8.8 x 13 metres, required specific logistics and the coordination of an extensive team of restorers and specialized handlers. The process involved removing dust and grime from the surface using brushes and suction devices, as well as reinforcing small tears in the fabric, which was done using scaffolding to work at heights.

Because the tempera paint had been applied in a heavily diluted form, when the backdrop had to be taken down, the fabric could be rolled onto a 60 cm diameter cylinder as the cleaning progressed. The condition of the ropes supporting the backdrop was also checked. For safety reasons, they were replaced with new ones with the help of a stagehand.

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