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The conference “Multidisciplinary conservation – a holistic view for historic interiors” was a joint interim meeting of five ICOM-CC working groups: “Leather and related materials”, “Murals, stone and rock art”, “Sculpture, polychromy and architectural conservation”, “Textiles” and “Wood, furniture and lacquer”. More than 200 delegates from 20 different countries attended the conference. The meeting was hosted by the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (MiBAC) and by the Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione e il Restauro (ISCR), with the support of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the International Council of Museums – Italia (ICOM Italia). During the three days the main subject was divided in 8 different themes, covering different approaches to the conservation of historic interiors: “Historic interiors and wide ranging conservation projects”, “Museums and private residences: principles of conservation”, “Interdisciplinary issues”, “Preserving original context while maintaining a functional role”, “Preventive conservation, care and maintenance”, “Cultural property: changes in the original context”, “Composite material artefacts: conservation projects” and “Materials and artefacts: technical and scientific update”. The poster sessions took place before lunch and afternoon coffee breaks. The subjects were related with different areas: “Historic interiors”, “Textiles”, “Leather and related materials”, “Sculpture, polychromy and architectural decoration” (2 sessions) and “Wood, furniture and lacquer”. Each author had 3 minutes to make a presentation on the theme of the poster, inviting the delegates to a more attentive look. The posters were in display during the 3 days in the lunch room. During the 3 days several speakers from public and private institutions approached the conservation of different interiors, with different materials and in different countries. There were global approaches (Netherlands), integrated approaches (Belgium) and historic interiors improvements (England). Different case studies were discussed, such as a Refectory (Malbork), a Sacristy (Tibães), a Palace (Padmanabhapuram), a Royal Vineyard (Torino), a Chinese room (Warsaw), a Castle (Torino), a Theatre (Italy), Villas, Temples (Taiwan), Museums and Churches. Some objects were also mentioned related with the environment where they were located: tapestries, paintings, sculptures, lacquer panels, altarpieces and parchments. From left to right: Figure 1. Discussion of the session “Cultural property: changes in the original context”. Chair: Rui Xavier. Figure 2. Poster presentation: “Sculpture, polychromy and architectural decoration” (Session 6). Figure 3. Presentation of Conservation works in refectories in the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, by Marcin Kozarzewski and Agnieszka Wielocha. Figure 4. Closing remarks by Kate Seymour - “Sculpture, polychromy and architectural decoration” Group Coordinator. Some of the presentation showed really interesting approaches to the conservation of historic interiors and all the aspects involving such heterogeneous environments. Multidisciplinary teams made possible good final results sometimes in difficult conditions – logistic, monetary or geographical - these examples thought the interventions in a methodical way, with a scientific ground and within reasonable timings. However, a less successful approach was made in other presentations especially regarding the degradation of materials in historic interiors, its causes and how to solve them. In an overall appreciation this was probably the weakest point of the congress, the lack of well based scientific methodology to conservation issues and how to solve certain environmental problems and degradation processes. Many of the presentations were quite empirical and the support of a more rigorous approach clearly lacked. The 21st century conservation of historic interiors can not be based only on installing air-conditioning systems or humidifiers in the rooms and then expect them to solve problems. Apparently, one of the speakers was very surprised when several months later things were still the same! Choosing a colour for an historic interior is, without doubt, a very important aspect of the conservation process – as some examples have shown. Several exams have to be performed, the need of historical research is fundamental, but spending months or even years discussing it? That doesn’t seem a very practical approach and in an everyday conservation process that is very far from reality... The organisation of the congress in its different aspects – timing, lunches and visits – was flawless. The coordinators and assistant coordinators of the different groups made everything run smoothly and the fact that the different groups could meet after the congress – some of those meetings occurred during dinner time – was a great idea, so people from different countries could talk and share their thoughts. About the author: ANA BIDARRA Conservator-restorer Contact: anabidarra@portugalmail.com Ana Bidarra has a Degree in Conservation-Restoration and a Master Degree in GeoSciences on white structured pigments for restoration. Currently she is a PhD candidate researching the compositional and technological aspects of gold leaf from Portuguese baroque altarpieces. She works as conservator-restorer in private practice since 1999. ▲TOP To save this article please Download this article
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