Moving a permanent Munch installation

For more than 100 years, original paintings by Edvard Munch have hung in the dining hall at Freia’s historic chocolate factory in Oslo. When the protected works recently needed to be temporarily relocated, MTAB was entrusted with the assignment.

Commissioned in 1923 by Freia director Johan Throne Holst, the twelve paintings were created to improve the working environment for factory employees. The paintings were first installed in the women’s dining room before being moved to the larger Freia Hall in 1934, where they have remained ever since.

Part of Norwegian cultural heritage

Today, the paintings are considered an important part of Norwegian cultural heritage and are protected by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Unlike many other works by Munch, the paintings have remained part of their original architectural setting rather than being displayed as part of a museum collection.

The temporary relocation was carried out as part of renovation work in Freia Hall. During this period, the paintings are being exhibited at MUNCH, the museum dedicated to Edvard Munch in Oslo, before eventually returning to their original setting at Freia.

Kent Inge Rustad, Head of Fine Art Norway at MTAB, explains the unique nature of the assignment:

– What made these works particularly special is that they have never been loaned out for exhibitions. They are permanent fixtures in Freia Hall and protected by the cultural authorities, which meant the entire project required extensive planning and careful handling.

A complex dismantling process

Ahead of the dismantling, MTAB carried out detailed site inspections and developed a step-by-step plan for the removal process. Since the paintings are integrated into the walls behind protective glass, the operation required both precision and specially adapted lifting solutions.

– We used a crane truck to remove the glass panels before manually dismantling the paintings from the wall structure where they are mounted. The most critical moment was ensuring that the glass could be removed without coming into contact with the paintings during the process, says Kent Inge.

To minimise risk throughout the project, MTAB carried out a full risk assessment and safety analysis before work began.

– We prepared detailed risk plans for every stage of the dismantling process in order to ensure the works could be handled safely and under controlled conditions, Kent Inge explains.

The paintings are now on display at MUNCH, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience the historic Freia decoration up close before the works are returned to Freia Hall following the exhibition.