DESIGN STUDIO 4
Abstract The reason to have a structured security system is to prevent threats such as thefts and accidents. The motive of threats are often towards the value of the work, be it financial, artistic, or cultural—or some combination of those factors. Giving a good reference is the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist. The thefts cut Rembrandt’s Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee and A Lady and Gentleman in Black from their frames; removed Vermeer’s The Concert and Flinck’s Landscape with an Obelisk from their frames; pulled an ancient Chinese bronze Gu, or beaker, from a table; and took a small self-portrait etching by Rembrandt from the side of a chest. It only took them 81 minutes to accomplish the heist and escape. The problem which allow such act to happen is the lack of awareness of the security guards, as you can see from the image, they were duct taped and handcuffed. They should be alert of surrounding people and be able to defend themselves and defend the artwork. Moreover, the museum only have motion detectors and no CCTV footages. This had made the tracking of the thefts hard as there were only recording of sounds and no image to enable recognition of the thefts. The frames were also left hanging without any protection and security.
Research by Fan Khai Jing
SECURITY SYSTEM 68
