Innovative Approaches to the Complex Care of Contemporary Art

Innovative Approaches to the Complex Care of Contemporary Art addresses the evolving challenges of conserving modern and contemporary artworks, where traditional methods often fall short. Emphasising a multidimensional approach, the volume explores how conservation must adapt to include not only physical preservation but also intangible elements such as performance, artist intent, and digital forms. Through case studies and critical reflections, contributors advocate for ethically grounded, historically aware, and legally informed strategies that reflect the dynamic nature of contemporary cultural heritage.

The volume Innovative Approaches to the Complex Care of Contemporary Art contributes to the debate on the care of the most recent cultural heritage – modern and contemporary art. A new understanding is required, which takes into account the care and conservation of both the tangible and intangible aspects of visual art. The paradox of current conservation practice has been that despite adopting the new concept of heritage, the aims and methods of conservation have remained the same, evolving very slowly by following some changes in the history of ideas, human experience and techniques of conservation. The authors of this book relate complex conservation practices to an awareness of the need for a multidimensional approach to the care of modern and contemporary art. Maintaining a dialogue with history, they boldly confront the typical patterns and accepted evolution of the theory of conservation by looking at the wider perspective including the most recent history of any work of art – documentation, interviews with artists, records of image, the sound of performance, consent to e-installation, emulation etc. They bear in mind as the first principle primum non nocere and various legal issues.

Foreword

Iwona Szmelter

An innovative complex approach to visual art preservation

Iwona Szmelter

Legal framework of the conservation and restoration of modern and contemporary art

Wojciech W. Kowalski

Artists' legacies: lost but not forgotten? Some comments on the documentation of contemporary art in Germany

Ursula Schadler-Saub

The brain in the museum

Dorota Folga-Januszewska

On (former) Eastern Europe. discussing the post-communist condition in art

Piotr Piotrowski

Back to the future: authenticity and its influence on the conservation of modern art

Monika JadziA""ska

'Info-virus' art and restoration: some reflections

Hiltrud Schinzel

Conservation and preservation of photographic heritage: challenges of technology in transition

Dusan C. Stulik and Art Kaplan

Implementation of INCCA models and guidelines in collection care practice at the ZachAOta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw, Poland

Joanna WaAko

What is to be preserved in contemporary art? A question for the curator or the conservator?

Hilkka Hiiop

Video collections: preservation, management & restoration - Cricoteka case study

Ela Wysocka

Chen Zhen vs. Julije Knifer: two different aspects of preservation

Mirta Pavic and Zlatko Bielen

Preserving the polysemantics of a work of art set by an extraneous cultural context: the case study of the Ilya Kabakov installation School No. 6

Kinga Olesiejuk

Preservation of the complex identity of a contemporary work of art: a challenge for the curator and conservator

Natalia Andrzejewska

Painting materials and media in the development of the aesthetics of painting as exemplified by the contemporary work of Upper Silesian artists

Anna Zadora

Appendix: Issues in the conservation management of contemporary art collections, based on the INCCA model

Hilkka Hioop,

Foreword

Iwona Szmelter

An innovative complex approach to visual art preservation

Iwona Szmelter

Legal framework of the conservation and restoration of modern and contemporary art

Wojciech W. Kowalski

Artists’ legacies: lost but not forgotten? Some comments on the documentation of contemporary art in Germany

Ursula Schädler-Saub

The brain in the museum

Dorota Folga-Januszewska

On (former) Eastern Europe. discussing the post-communist condition in art

Piotr Piotrowski

Back to the future: authenticity and its influence on the conservation of modern art

Monika Jadzińska

‘Info-virus’ art and restoration: some reflections

Hiltrud Schinzel

Conservation and preservation of photographic heritage: challenges of technology in transition

Dusan C. Stulik and Art Kaplan

Implementation of INCCA models and guidelines in collection care practice at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw, Poland

Joanna Waśko

What is to be preserved in contemporary art? A question for the curator or the conservator?

Hilkka Hiiop

Video collections: preservation, management & restoration – Cricoteka case study

Ela Wysocka

Chen Zhen vs. Julije Knifer: two different aspects of preservation

Mirta Pavic and Zlatko Bielen

Preserving the polysemantics of a work of art set by an extraneous cultural context: the case study of the Ilya Kabakov installation School No. 6

Kinga Olesiejuk

Preservation of the complex identity of a contemporary work of art: a challenge for the curator and conservator

Natalia Andrzejewska

Painting materials and media in the development of the aesthetics of painting as exemplified by the contemporary work of Upper Silesian artists

Anna Zadora

Appendix: Issues in the conservation management of contemporary art collections, based on the INCCA model

Hilkka Hioop

• Edited by Iwona Szmelter