ON THE REVERSE: THE HIDDEN SIDE

Antoni Junco's exhibition design was key to the materialisation of this proposal. To enable visitors to view both sides of many works simultaneously, a custom mount system was developed, designed with precision to guarantee stability, security and conservation. The process involved complex technical planning due to the specific characteristics of the works, some of them belonging to the Prado's collection and others loaned by external institutions. Each work, with variable formats and dimensions, required a unique mount. In total, around three hundred and fifty devices were made, comprising claws adapted to the characteristics of each painting. As well as robust and functional, these mounts unified the aesthetic aspect of the exhibition, integrating perfectly with the proposed visual poetry.

The lighting was an additional challenge. To illuminate both sides of the works without dazzling visitors, a specific track system was designed to provide precision lighting to each exhibit from different angles. This lighting solution helped to highlight the hidden details and create an ambience that accentuated the introspective nature of the exhibition.
The layout of the works also marked a departure from traditional norms. Although some paintings were presented in a conventional manner with the reverse side to the wall, many others where hung the other way around, with their front to the wall to place the emphasis on the back. This configuration involved exceptional technical complexity, as each mount had to guarantee both the security of the paintings and their optimal visibility.

The result was an exhibition that transcended the boundaries of traditional museography, offering a novel vision of art and the material history of the works. On the Reverse did not only explore what is usually hidden, but also revealed the collective efforts of an entire institution to transform an original idea into a deeply engaging experience.
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