Article online: Protecting Impermanence

Posted on Mon, 04/15/2013 - 12:23
The following is a new addition to the Resources section of the INCCA website (category Preservation)

http://www.incca.org/resources/106-preservation

PROTECTING IMPERMANENCE: A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO THE CARE OF TEMPORARY ARTWORKS

Harriet Pearson, Maureen Cross, Rachel Barker

This article was published in the December 2012 issue of immediations, the Courtauld Institute of Art journal of postgraduate research

http://www.immediations.co.uk/

ABSTRACT

Temporality in modern and contemporary artworks manifests itself in various forms. By combining conceptual transience and material instability, a work can test institutional practices privileging a more enduring permanence of display. Additionally, the problem ofunintended material instability presents a particular challenge to the conservator. While these temporal aspects have been widely discussed within conservation literature, little has been written on the care of artworks deemed temporary not by virtue of material choices but due to the artist’s intention or the exhibition choices of the institution. Through the comparison of case studies focussing on wall works by Richard Long and Richard Wright, an investigation into issues pertaining to the care of artworks originally envisaged as temporary is presented. A key source of research includes communication with the artists and related stakeholders.

Download article here