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Open Care © Carlo Valsecchi
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Restoring contemporary artworks is very different to conserving older pieces. For centuries, artists used a set range of materials and techniques, but in the 20th century many artists started using unconventional materials, meaning conservators had to change their practices too. Artworks made from leaves, lead, plastic, bread – even human blood! – all degrade in different ways and present unique challenges for restorers.
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Open Care © Andrea Chisesi
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THE SECRETS OF CONTEMPORARY ART RESTORATION
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Want to discover more about restoring contemporary art? The new book Art Work, edited by Isabella Villafranca Soissons, director of the conservation department at Open Care in Milan, was launched at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris in May. The book reflects on the complex issues and unique challenges involved in this artisanal profession, presenting the viewpoints of those involved.
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Photo by Lola Moser © Michelangelo Foundation
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At a conference to launch the book those viewpoints were represented by: Elisabetta Galasso, CEO of Open Care; contemporary artist Marc Couturier; Grazia Quaroni, director of collections at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain; Giuliana Setari, art collector and owner of the Dena Foundation; and Alberto Cavalli, co-executive director of the Michelangelo Foundation. Together they discussed the complexities of the profession: how involved should a living artist be in the restoration of his works?; how can the restorer respect the artist’s original vision?; what are the unique challenges of restoring very different materials?; what legal and ethical issues are involved? Supported by the Michelangelo Foundation, the English edition of Art Work is available to buy now. Or pick up the original Italian version, In Opera, supported by the Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte, here.
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Photo by Emanuele Zamponi © Michelangelo Foundation
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Together with sister organisation Factum Foundation, Factum Arte combines traditional craftsmanship with innovative digital processes to document and digitally reconstruct some of the world’s greatest artistic treasures. For example, using a non-contact colour scanning system with integrated LED lights, Factum Arte was able to digitally record Veronese’s Wedding at Cana, housed in the Louvre in Paris, and create an exact facsimile to be hung in the painting’s original location, the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice. Find out more
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THE MASTERS OF RESTORATION
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