A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. This collaborative project between three universities, four museums and an art gallery aims to discover how to predict and increase the lifespan of malignant plastics or polymers by studying their identification, deterioration and conservation. 5 to 80% of museum collections, composed of growing numbers of plastic or polymer-based materials, need ....A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. This collaborative project between three universities, four museums and an art gallery aims to discover how to predict and increase the lifespan of malignant plastics or polymers by studying their identification, deterioration and conservation. 5 to 80% of museum collections, composed of growing numbers of plastic or polymer-based materials, need better preservation. Conservators do not have much expertise in preserving plastics, which are contemporary and have a relatively short life expectancy. This project intends to provide museums with a model for prioritising and effectively allocating resources to preserve a vulnerable group of collections for future generations.Read moreRead less
The Behaviour of Western Artists' Materials in Tropical Environments. This project is a study of the behaviour of western artists materials in tropical climates through the visual examination and scientific analysis of both simulated and aged paintings from four museums in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This will form new methodologies and guidelines for the preventive care, transportation, storage and conservation treatment of western artists materials in hot, humid climates. ....The Behaviour of Western Artists' Materials in Tropical Environments. This project is a study of the behaviour of western artists materials in tropical climates through the visual examination and scientific analysis of both simulated and aged paintings from four museums in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This will form new methodologies and guidelines for the preventive care, transportation, storage and conservation treatment of western artists materials in hot, humid climates. The success of this project will have profound implications on the analytical techniques available for conservation research.Read moreRead less
Understanding and preserving Aboriginal Catholic church art in northern Australia. This project examines Aboriginal art produced in Catholic churches in northern Australia. This art represents ways in which Catholic doctrine and Indigenous belief systems built cross-cultural awareness that influenced contemporary thinking in universities, in Aboriginal communities and which has informed contemporary Aboriginal art practice.
Comedy - no laughing matter: identifying and preserving the history of comedy in Melbourne from the 1960s through the 1980s. This project will document the historical development of the comedy industry in Melbourne through preserving the material culture and recording the oral histories of its participants. In doing so, it will bridge a substantial gap in the knowledge of Australia's cultural history, and preserve important material for future research.
The twentieth century in paint. The art market is a major contributor to the Australian economy worth over $500M per annum. However many modern works created with new materials introduced in the 20th century in Australia and Southeast Asia exhibit problems with deterioration, and there is little research on the use and effects of these materials. Without answers to material based preservation questions collectors, curators and conservators cannot make informed decisions. This project, with partn ....The twentieth century in paint. The art market is a major contributor to the Australian economy worth over $500M per annum. However many modern works created with new materials introduced in the 20th century in Australia and Southeast Asia exhibit problems with deterioration, and there is little research on the use and effects of these materials. Without answers to material based preservation questions collectors, curators and conservators cannot make informed decisions. This project, with partners in Australia, Asia, US and UK will provide fundamental information to assist in formulating management strategies, inform curatorship and develop innovative approaches to conservation and the manufacture of art materials.Read moreRead less