Art of conservation

As regards cultural heritage, great works of art hold an insurmountable value entirely of their own. After all, art allows us a glimpse of the architecture of our culture, of inspired moments in time expressed through various creative forms, and of the direction in which our civilisation is travelling. Its conservation, therefore, is of paramount importance.

Without art conservators we might fail to see the true intention of the artist in all its impact. At its essence, art conservation safeguards the longevity of artworks, and in doing so, it ensures the continuity of culture itself.

The past decades have seen a deep and profound evolution in the protection of artworks, something which has given rise to the contemporary profession of the art conservator. Scientific advancements have allowed a more precise understanding of how factors, such as climate conditions, lighting, transport and handling have the potential to alter an artwork, distancing its appearance and impact from the original intention of the artist. In much the same way, these advances in knowledge have likewise allowed further insight into how damage caused by such influences can be both avoided and rectified, and the artwork preserved for the generations to come.

The practice and science of art conservation sits at the frontier of preserving artworks for posterity, and involves the combined technical expertise and insight of a number of different specialists working alongside one another. In this essence, it is fundamentally an interdisciplinary approach, and one which gives equal standing to art history as to scientific analysis and material sciences, and in which the ultimate aim is to stabilise, document, and preserve the artwork for an ongoing cultural future.

While certain methods of art conservation have remained unchanged across the years, a range of technological breakthroughs, from detailed analyses, digital multi-imaging processes to advanced microscopy, have driven the profession forward considerably. “Technology and technique have evolved,” Markus continues, “and we at Fondation Beyeler have fantastic opportunities to deeply and meticulously examine artworks, thus identifying individual issues that need addressing for successful conservation.”

It is upon this inventiveness, and an approach of treating each individual artwork as unique as the artistic vision which led to its creation, that Fondation Beyeler’s Art Conservation Department has built an international reputation of the highest standards. By perfecting skills and techniques which will preserve artistic treasures for generations to come, Markus Gross and his team aren’t just conserving artworks. They are slowing down the march of time.

La Prairie