Many are familiar with the field of art conservation, possibly through high profile projects like the cleaning of Michelangelo’s David, or the heroic conservation treatment on the heels of vandalism of a masterpiece painting. Such art treasures – made from traditional art materials like marble and oil on canvas – are treated with meticulous care, using tiny swabs to remove years of dirt, or microscopic tweezers to align torn fibers in a canvas. But what happens when the work of art is ephemeral in nature, like Janine Antoni’s work in soap and chocolate? Or is rooted in a concept and ceases to exist as a physical entity at the end of an exhibition, like Sol LeWitt’s wall drawings? Using case studies as examples, this talk highlights the shift in approach that is necessary in the conservation of contemporary art.
