Theory and Practice in Conservation of Modern Art: Reflections on the Roots and on the Perspectives

International symposium

13-14 January 2009 | Hildesheim, Goschentor 1

The symposium focused on the question: On what theoretical basis can we rely for the conservation and preservation of modern and contemporary art? To what extent the "classic" conservation theories of the past century are still valid and can they adapt and evolve? Or should the concepts, principles and criteria of preservation for this new art concept be defined very differently?

Internationally renowned specialists were invited:

• Isabelle Brajer, National Museum of Denmark
• Salvador Munoz Vinas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia
• Iwona Szmelter, Kunstakademie in Warschau
• Francesca Valentini, Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Roma / Associazione Amici di Cesare Brandi
• Cornelia Weyer, Restaurierungszentrum Düsseldorf

From the Faculty Preservation of Cultural Heritage:

• Andreas Kühne
• Ursula Schädler-Saub
• Michael von der Goltz

For the presentation of his Experimental Films from the Sixties the Artist Michael Langer was present, too.

The symposium was open to all interested professionals.