The papers in this volume, from the Hildesheim symposium, Theory and Practice in the Conservation of Modern and Contemporary Art: Reflections on the Roots and the Perspectives, confront the theoretical foundation and the ethical and aesthetical principles of the conservation of modern and contemporary art, testing the limits and possibilities of the development of established positions and seeking new challenges.
The authors tackle the crucial question - whether there should be specific theoretical, ethical and aesthetical guidelines for the conservation and restoration of modern and contemporary art - by starting from important historical theories and seeing how these might be adapted to meet the demands of contemporary society in dealing with modern artworks and all the multiform cultural manifestations of today.
Since the preservation of the concepts and ideas of contemporary art as well as the conservation or substitution of materials requires a highly sophisticated knowledge of the artist's intentions, a most important voice in this context - that of the artist - is found in the interviews with several contemporary artists and collectors assembled in the appendices.
Published in association with the Hornemann Institute.
Preface by Martin Thren, president of HAWK
Foreword by Angela Weyer, director of the Hornemann Institute
Introduction
Ursula Schädler-Saub
Theoretical principles
The artwork that became a symbol of itself: reflections on the conservation of modern art
Salvador Muñoz Viñas
Media art and the limits of established ethics of restoration
Cornelia Weyer
On a new conceptual framework for the preservation of the heritage of modern and contemporary art
Iwona Szmelter
Alois Riegl's Denkmalswerte: a decision chart model for modern and contemporary art conservation?
Michael von der Goltz
Conservation of modern and contemporary art: what remains of Cesare Brandi's Teoria del restauro?
Ursula Schädler-Saub
Conserving modern and contemporary art: reflections on theory and practice in Italy
Francesca Valentini
Theory and practice
Reflections on the fate of modern murals: values that influence treatment - treatments that influence values
Isabelle Brajer
Theory and practice of the preservation of modern and contemporary art: complex tangible and intangible heritage
Iwona Szmelter
Some thoughts on the changing presentation and preservation of modern and postmodern art
Andreas Kühne and Lisa Kirch
From wall paintings to ephemeral installations: the Munich artist groups SPUR, Geflecht and Kollektiv Herzogstrasse
Ursula Schädler-Saub
Appendix 1: selection of interviews with artists
Hans Matthäus Bachmayer
Heiko Herrmann
Heino Naujoks
Thomas Niggl
Rânebach
Helmut Rieger
Armin Saub and Heinz Weld
Appendix 2: selection of interviews with art collectors, gallery owners and art critics
Susanne (daughter of the art patron and collector Willi Bleicher)
Michael Hauck (former company art representative)
Klaus Lea (gallery owner)
Dr. Fraucke Schmidt-Sibeth and Dr. Hans Schmidt-Sibeth (art collectors)
Dr. Hanne Weskott (art critic and art historian)
Dr. Dietrich and Bettina Winkhaus (art collectors)
List of contributors
Reviews
This publication should be essential reading not only for the 'contemporary art conservator' but also for anyone involved or interested in the care of cultural heritage. Despite the ambitious subject matter the book is easy to read from cover to cover conveying a holistic understanding of conservation theories and practices. This publication goes beyond asking 'Should there be specific theoretical, ethical and aesthetical guidelines for the conservation and restoration of modern and contemporary art?' It is that guide!
ICON News 30 (September 2010) 26
...I applaud the results of this project. The book provides thoughtful analysis of traditional conservation theory and its failure to fully address today's artistic production. It represents a much-needed movement towards constructing a new theory for the care/conservation/restoration/preservation/informational documentation that is already taking place in the field.
Studies in Conservation 57(1) (January 2012) 61-62
