A “epidemic”, as it has been called by conservators, is not only threatening some of the country’s most notable paintings and cultural objects but also poses a health hazard to visitors.
“It’s quite a large problem because these fungi they deteriorate museum artefacts, materials, they decimate enzymes and assets, deteriorating museum objects, so it will damage them,” Camilla Jul Bastholm, head of conservation and collection storage at the National Museum of Denmark, told the Guardian.
The newly encountered species of mold, dubbed aspergillus section restricti, coats objects in a white dust. It is part of a group of fungi that can survive in most extreme environments, such as the deep ocean and in proximity to volcanoes.
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Notably, this fungus prefers dry climates as opposed to humid ones more typical for mold, posing a potentially immense issue for artworks and artifacts, which are specifically maintained in similar environments.
The mold has been detected in 12 of the country’s museums, among them, the National Museum of Denmark and Skagens Museum. Preliminary studies are also being conducted among 150 additional cultural sites in Denmark to determine if it has spread there, too.
By the time the substance is visible, Jul Bastholm explained, it is “too late”. Adding, “I think it is worldwide. If we start looking for it with the right methods we will find it. I don’t think it’s just a Danish thing.”
Jul Bastholm claims to have also seen the mold in churches, archives, and libraries as well. The National Museum is in the process of relocating affected works into a new warehouse near Copenhagen. While the museum hopes this will help contain the problem, it remains unclear how to stop the mold from growing.
The Danish Museums Association is awaiting results from further research before making a decision on how to proceed by the end of the year.