A triumphant comeback

To overcome the challenges presented by travel restrictions, new protocols and special measures were taken by the museum. Before the pandemic, the museum required onsite supervision for the loading, unloading and unpacking of the artworks. Now, these procedures can be monitored remotely through video technologies. Myriam Kryger, cultural consul of France in Shanghai, was the only person who oversaw these activities onsite. Marmottan also commissioned classical art restoration specialists based in Shanghai to check on the exhibits every other week.

Art lovers in Asia, such as China and Japan, have a strong affinity toward impressionist artworks, Xie says. "Visitors used to wait in long lines in front of the Shanghai Art Museum when impressionist art was on show in China for the first time in the early 2000s," he recalls.

Kryger shares the same sentiment, noting that Asians love impressionist art just like how impressionists were fascinated with Asian art.

Although the municipality no longer requires museums to have a visitor cap, Bund One Museum says it would still monitor visitor conditions to ensure that every visitor has a pleasant viewing experience.