Canada

Arius Technology

From a Picasso painting seized upon the 65-metre yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1613" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Adix64.85m (212'9&quot;)Astilleros de Mallorca S.A.1984">Adix</a> to Basquiats hanging beside champagne bars, there is an art to collecting art for your superyacht, and it comes with a host of obligations and practicalities. Swerving pirates, the real threat to offshore masterpieces, can be as simple as a lack of crew training, a flying champagne cork, or sailing unchartered waters. As the value of these floating galleries is often equated to that of the yacht itself, the intricacies surrounding how to understand, transport, store, and preserve art onboard are broadening. With specialist tax lawyers to educational programmes for staff onboard, owners have many resources for logistical and practical solutions to ensure a secure floating gallery.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht Times</a> Digital Editor Emma Becque spoke with experts about how best to safeguard precious gallery-worthy content onboard superyachts.Art appreciation and training<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artonsuperyachts (Company)">ArtOnSuperyachts</a>, founded by Oxford-educated art historian Pandora Mather-Lees, provides training and consultancy services for managing and preserving art collections on international yachts. After working at Hedley's Group, a fine art shipper, Pandora gained an intricate insight into the world of superyachts and the lack of training for those onboard handling the art in yachting. Thanks to her expertise, she strategised a company <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artonsuperyachts (Company)">ArtOnSuperyachts</a> consisting of training &nbsp;courses featuring &nbsp;a catalogue of modules which offer practical training and troubleshooting for those handling and caring for the art while at sea. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295120/image/large-acf5843d7bfbbfd1f7722111edbcd123.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295120">Pandora notes how her “art history module is one of my most popular. It exemplifies how the crew are eager to learn more about various art collections they are surrounded with." The modules take an in-depth approach with graduates understanding the pieces and also able to clarify the difference between abstract and figurative. "This module is essential when you have some of the world's most valuable collections onboard. When explaining the collections, the crew can delve deeper with guests, making this training beneficial for the crew and the owners.”The 12-module training, available both online and in-person, is designed for those interested in enhancing their careers and knowledge in handling valuable objects at home, institutions, or on superyachts. This training is vital for interior crew, captains, yacht management, shipyards, designers, training companies, and marine project managers to avoid serious financial repercussions.Other training modules by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artonsuperyachts (Company)">ArtOnSuperyachts</a> include:Art Appreciation: Enhancing crew understanding of the value and significance of onboard art, fostering better relationships with owners and yacht management.Care &amp; Conservation: Addressing the challenges of handling fine and decorative arts on vessels, focusing on climate control, placement, and maintenance.Legal Export Risks: Highlighting the importance of understanding regulations governing cultural objects for captains, yacht management, and senior interior crew.The online training offers four levels, ranging from Art Appreciation to Art Due Diligence, while the classroom program covers a wide range of topics over one or two days, including art history, insurance, and understanding the art market. Additionally, private lectures focus on cultural heritage in maritime environments, catering to select groups and directly teaching yacht crews.Commission rather than collect&nbsp;An alternative to an art collection is to commission and curate your works of art, moulded explicitly to meet the function and form of the yacht itself. Founded in 2012 in Bristol, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7277" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artelier (Company)">Artelier</a> has rapidly become a cornerstone in art consultancy, specialising in superyachts. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7277" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artelier (Company)">Artelier</a> emerged to fill this niche with expertise and art knowledge, recognising a gap in expertise traditionally served by interior designers. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/284223/image/large-66058aea2786ab0722eae73533a25a58.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/284223">David Knowles, Founder and Creative Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7277" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artelier (Company)">Artelier</a>, is confident of his catalogue of artists' talents and return on investment when highlighting a recent project. “For a recent <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/601" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Falcon Yachts S.r.l. (Company)">Falcon Yachts</a> project, we collaborated closely with the client, taking charge of the entire art package. The interior design firm facilitated the connection between us and the client, allowing us to work directly with them. The project had a distinct theme revolving around the concept of “Lucine”, which translates to “Moon” in Armenian. As a result, all the artwork we curated and presented to the client had a meaningful connection to the moon and the celestial realm.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/243145/image/large-77c71b609b346f6786c94e408e1d5a16.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/243145"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7277" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artelier (Company)">Artelier's</a> approach to sourcing artists is dynamic and inclusive, encompassing art fairs, galleries, online research, and studio visits. They are open to artists of all backgrounds, valuing quality over formal qualifications. Their selection criteria include originality, technical skill, innovative use of materials, and the potential for growth and evolution in an artist's work.Collaborating closely with designers, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7277" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artelier (Company)">Artelier</a> engages in projects at various stages, from initial concepts to final touches, ensuring art significantly influences the design process. For yacht interiors, they prioritise unique and handcrafted artworks, avoiding mass-produced items. This preference aligns with the current trend towards sustainable art, using natural or recycled materials.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7277" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artelier (Company)">Artelier's</a> notable yacht project was for the “67.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/18" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amels (Company)">Amels</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6200" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Neninka67.6m (221'9&quot;)Amels2019">Neninka</a> (ex. Aurora Borealis), where they “had the privilege of collaborating with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch Design</a> to curate the entire art package for Neninka. One of the standout features of this project was a remarkable 5-metre-long curved wall in the owner’s suite is adorned with pure gold leaf. This wall created a captivating focal point within the space. The inspiration for this feature wall stemmed from the client’s interest in Mount Fuji. We incorporated shades of gold leaf to bring depth and dimension to the design, capturing the essence of the owner’s passion. Considering the yacht’s purpose as a charter vessel and its availability for sale, the aesthetic was intentionally kept neutral, ensuring it would appeal to a wide range of potential buyers. Our goal was to harmonise the art with the interior design scheme, seamlessly blending it into the ambience of the yacht.This gold leaf wall stands as a testament to the meticulous attention to detail and the ability to create a bespoke art piece that aligns perfectly with the owner’s vision and the overall design concept. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7277" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artelier (Company)">Artelier</a> is evolving rapidly, with Knowles noting recent trends when observing how owners opt for “sustainable choices; while not necessarily new in the art world, artists have been incorporating recycled materials and traditional craftsmanship for years. It is gratifying to resurface artworks from our extensive database, giving them the recognition they deserve in line with this growing trend.”&nbsp;Technological replicationsRather than house an art collection onboard, with tax and legal obligations, it can also be wise to seek out other alternatives. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arius Technology (Company)">Arius Technology</a>, a leader in art technology, has revolutionised the industry with its 3D digitisation-to-print solution, initially used for analysing the Mona Lisa masterpiece. Collaborating with prestigious institutions like Tate and the National Gallery of Canada, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arius Technology (Company)">Arius</a> has replicated masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet, and many others. Its technology, comprising a 3D colour laser system and a robotic handling system, allows precise replications while preserving the original art.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295114/image/large-d6f9fe7a9f22bd81fd38159df2167f49.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295114">This innovation extends to multiple sectors - from museum-quality reproductions to aiding artists in creating digital and NFT versions of their work. Arius not only enhances art replication and preservation but also bridges traditional and digital art worlds, maintaining the quality, guarding the safety and swerving any challenges of housing museum-quality artworks at sea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/295113/image/large-479d477956989b38152b9241a4a06d3f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/295113" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The paperworkIn an insightful discussion with Carla Bellieni, a Certified Chartered Accountant and expert in Maritime Tax and Customs Law, the complexities of housing artworks onboard yachts are revealed. Bellieni notes how “In my experience, the most commonly underestimated aspects at the time of purchasing artworks, which may lead to unintentional loss of value, avoidable costs, or damage, include”:&nbsp;<ul><li>The tax aspects are linked to legal classification, where digital artworks or modern pieces may not be classified as art, sometimes more aptly classified as furnishings.</li><li>In customs, incorrect classification can result in tariffs or border rejections. The importance of declaring the origin and value of the artwork for tax and customs is incredibly challenging with international artists and works without a clear market price.&nbsp;</li><li>The connection between the artwork and the geographical mobility of the yacht can complicate tax events due to territorial taxation scopes and customs issues, including restrictions on paintings of national interest.</li><li>The necessity of legal assistance in obtaining proper insurance coverage.</li><li>Anti-Money Laundering (AML) considerations in the transfer of artworks.</li><li>The risk of an inadequately trained crew managing and maintaining artworks, particularly with innovative art mediums, could lead to a total loss of value not covered by insurance.</li></ul>To avoid mishaps in housing artworks on yachts, Bellieni suggests, “It's crucial to approach purchases and planning beyond financial and aesthetic considerations, incorporating legal, tax, insurance, and management aspects.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/212321/image/large-170d0b1e08e46ab129f8e4df2c229f65.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/212321">Equally, owners “should assemble a specialised team of experts tailored to their specific needs, focusing on the authenticity and legalities of the artwork's purchase and movement. This team must be chosen based on their education, skills, and experience, ensuring that all potential risks and complexities are addressed. This includes understanding the intricacies of tax laws and the dynamic nature of maritime transactions.” For Bellieni, “Pandora of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artonsuperyachts (Company)">ArtOnSuperyachts</a>&nbsp; plays a crucial role in this strategy, aiding in identifying and classifying artworks and providing essential support to the legal team in navigating uncertainties regarding the artworks' classification, origin, and value.”&nbsp;In line with this notion, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Artonsuperyachts (Company)">ArtOnSuperyachts</a> offers comprehensive strategies incorporating legal, fiscal, customs, and technical aspects to preserve artwork value and ensure legal compliance. Their courses include Pandora's module on art insurance, and another module focusing on media and materials, addressing optimal art placement onboard to maintain appropriate temperature, light, and heating conditions.

How to collect art onboard superyachts

SuperYacht Times Digital Editor Emma Becque spoke with experts about how best to safeguard precious gallery-worthy content onboard superyachts.