Once a controversial work at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art when originally installed in 1994, Shuttlecocks is now one of Kansas City’s most recognizable icons. Conceived by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coojse van Bruggen, the four giant shuttlecocks casually placed on the museum’s lawn suggest a game of badminton had been played by giants using the museum building as a net. The sculptures, constructed primarily of fiberglass, were supposed to be repainted every two years to keep them in optimal condition. However, museum officials quickly grew concerned that paint buildup would obscure the fine details on the “feathers”.

Tnemec recommended a solution utilizing its highest performing architectural topcoat, Fluoronar. This advanced fluoropolymer coating is exceptionally resistant to the damaging effects of ultra-violet light, remaining extremely stable after even prolonged exposures. This outstanding color and gloss retention made Series 1072 Fluoronar the perfect choice for extending the maintenance cycles on the shuttlecocks and eliminating the possibility of paint build-up in the future.

The first two shuttlecocks were dismantled in April 2001 and taken to the paint shop for renovation. These were followed by the remaining two in 2004 and 2006. After removing the existing layers of coating, a primecoat of Series 161 Tneme-Fascure, a polyamide epoxy, was applied followed by an intermediate coat of Series 73 Endura-Shield. Two custom colors were selected for the Fluoronar topcoat, Shuttlecock White for the feathers and Atkins Pumpkin for the orange tips. The components were then shipped back to the museum where they were reinstalled in their original locations.

“The sculptures that were painted in 2001 still look great,” says Paul Benson, conservator of The Nelson-Atkins Museum. “Even the bright orange looks exactly as it did when it was painted.”