Restoration Theory applied to Installation Art (11 May 2006)
creator(s) Cornelia Weyer
publisher Foundation for the Conservation of Contemporary Art

Biography
Dr. Cornelia Weyer was trained as a paintings conservator in Zürich (Schweizerisches Institut für Kunstwissenschaft) and Munich (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum and Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege) from 1973 to 1976. In addition to her formation as a conservator she studied art history at the universities of Zürich, München and Marburg. She graduated with a thesis on impainting in the early 19th century and finished her studies in 1987 with a PhD-thesis on the beginnings of painting conservation in the late 18th / early 19th century, also at Zürich University. In 1985 to 1986 she assited Dr. Thomas Brachert at the Institut für Kunsttechnik und Konservierung, Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg being in charge of the students‘ theoretical studies. From 1987 to 1992 she was painting conservator at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg. Cornelia lectured on art technology, restoration ethics and history of restoration at the universities of Zürich, Hildesheim, Gießen, Trier and Düsseldorf. From 1990 to 1996 she acted as coordinator of the ICOM-CC Working Group Theory and History of Restoration. From 2001 to 2005 she was vicepresident of VDR (Verband der Restauratoren). Cornelia is (since 1992) director of the Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf / Schenkung Henkel, which is the German co-organiser of the Inside Installation project.

Article / lecture abstract
Cornelia Weyer presented her ideas at the Theory & Semantics seminar held in the Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht. In her presentation four basic rules of restoration theory are being examined on their applicability to works of installation art: durability, authenticity, minimal intervention and reversibility. It is discussed why installations as conservation objects ask for decisions that differ from those usually taken in museum context.

Cornelia Weyer published an article of her presentation in:
'VDR - Beiträge zur Erhaltung von Kunst und Kulturgut'.
2/2006
ISBN10: 3-7954-1831-3
ISBN13: 978-3-7954-1831-1
The VDR (Verband der Restoratoren) is an umbrella organisation for German conservators and have kindly agreed for this article to be published on this website.

Click download for video (QuickTime), the presentation (powerpoint) and the article (PDF).

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