Preservation strategies
The nature of Installation art is distinct from traditional art, as it is wholly dependent on display for its realisation. An installation is more than a collection of physical objects but often includes relationships to the space and dynamic behaviours. It is crucial to establish a full description of the state of an installation in order to understand the significance of the component parts to the installation as a whole. Only then can appropriate preservation strategies be developed and evaluated. The conservator’s preservation activity follows this shift away from a unique material object to an installed event. Conservation has moved beyond minimising change in a physical object to a broader mission to enable the installation of the work in the future according to the artist’s intent and the historical character of the work.

The research took as its focus two main themes
Firstly, the use of risk analysis as a tool for developing conservation plans which addressed the complex needs of artists’ installations.
Secondly, the exploration of the shifting role of the conservator and curator in response to the preservation and presentation of artists’ installations
 
Access the following pages by clicking the title
Research on preservation strategies
(page includes Risk assessment, Shifting role of the conservator)