Preservation and Presentation of Installation Art

Elk, Ger van

The wider the flatter

01. Introduction
02. Condition
03. Research questions
04. Preliminary sketch
05. Installation history
06. Material history
07. Making new photographs
08. Artist's authorisation
09. Conservation
10. Preservation strategy
11. Resume

To replace or not to replace - photographic material in site-specific conceptual art (pdf/2440kb)

03. Research questions (2005)
creator(s) Sanneke Stigter (conservator/art historian)
publisher James & James/Earthscan

Research questions are discussed in a paper entiteled: 'To replace or not to replace? Photographic material in site-specific conceptual art'. This paper discusses the issue of replacement of photographic material in (conceptual) installation art in relation to a site-specific character, illustrated by an installation by Joseph Kosuth, 'One and Three Glass' (1965) and a sculpture by Ger van Elk, 'The Wider the Flatter' (1972). A lot of questions arise when these matters are discussed and contradicting opinions become apparent. These different views combined with art historical research gradually lead up to the decision-making process of possible conservation treatments and a guideline to re-installation.

ICOM-CC has kindly granted permission for publication on this website.

Click download for article (PDF).