| Editorial 4 |
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April 2008
Inventing the Future without Forgetting the Past
Some time ago a fellow conservator told me in an informal chat that conservators from developing countries tend to be very good professionals because "they know how to do a lot with little". Dealing everyday with technology I realize how much we may get used to it. In conservation, as much as in other fields, there is a thin line between using technology for our profit and depending on it. Although I agree with my friend’s opinion, I also believe it is not only a question of developing versus industrialised countries but big budget institutions versus low budget institutions, wherever they are. Conservation requires conservators to make use of their creative skills, not only in their approach to the works of art but also in the solutions they find. These last can not depend only on technology. The young generation is eager to implement new technology-based solutions, and even though traditionally it is said that conservators are conservative, this professional need has been losing strength over time. We have developed a love-hate relationship with technology that is exemplified in the application of lasers and digital imaging. Laser technology was first applied to conservation some decades ago while digital imaging has been around since the 80s. Despite the fact that these technologies are available, and even that there has been much research and development on these subjects, technology is still far away from the regular conservation workshop. Still, there is a driving force against this natural friction, well exemplified this issue in the article about the VARIM project. This Spanish initiative combines the spectral analysis of paintings and open-source software, designed with a user-friendly interface, in order to enable hands-on conservators to use it. In this issue you can also read two interesting conference reviews. Christabel Blackman is sharing her reflections based on her experience at the Getty’s conference “The Object in Transition”, held last January in Los Angeles. The second is Anca Dina's review of the annual conservation conference held in Romania, where the most important conservation projects are presented. Among other interesting articles, there is a particular study about the curious history of the art collector Georges de Batz seen from the perspective of the conservator Niccolo Caldararo. This case-study brings us the research, history and examination of a Roger de la Fresnaye painting from the de Batz art collection. I hope you will enjoy the reading! Rui Bordalo, Executive Editor
Permanent link to this resource: http://www.e-conservationline.com/content/view/605
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