We are pleased to announce a new, online edition of the NICAS colloquium on Thursday 24 March 2022 from 12.00 to 13.00 hrs. The colloquium will take place online through Microsoft Teams. By registering through the form below, you will receive the meeting link in your email.
Throughout the year, NICAS organises a bi-weekly Colloquium consisting of two short research lectures. It provides researchers with the opportunity to present ideas for, updates on or results of their activities. The NICAS Colloquium allows people to stay informed on a regular basis about the latest developments and results of research and to exchange information and expertise.
The chair of this colloquium will be Ida Fazlic (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility; Rijksmuseum)
The presenters are:
► Daphne Kramer – Polycaprolactone as reconstruction material for polyolefin objects: investigation into composition, stability and working properties
Abstract
Plastic consumer objects are being used by many artists in their artworks. Typical for these works is a shift from material to concept; the hand of the artist is visible in the way these objects are arranged instead of the way they are shaped. Polyolefin plastics are the most widely used materials for these objects. Breakage and dissociation of parts are common problems. Polyolefin plastics are difficult to adhere, and it is difficult to find a replacement part that can be included in the artwork. Polycaprolactone (PCL) may be a suitable material to recreate disassociated or broken polyolefin objects. It was tested on content, stability in a museum climate, on working properties and its aesthetic qualities. PCL proved to be a convincing match to polyolefins and had good working properties. However, this study also showed that there is difference in composition between brands and that composition can change over time upon aging.
Bio
Daphne Kramer works as conservator at Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Düsseldorf, Germany. She studied conservation of modern and contemporary art at the University of Amsterdam where she received her master’s degree in 2019 and finished the advanced professional’s programme in conservation in 2021.
► Caitlin Southwick – The Future of Heritage is Now
Abstract:
Sustainability is something that we hear a lot about today. As ever increasing repercussions from climate change affect not only our homes, but our heritage, cultural professionals now have the responsibility to ensure that we are thinking about not only the past – but the future.
Sustainability has to be a priority. But how do we do that when we are not trained to do so? When we already have so much on our plates and are constantly pressed for time? We will explore the sustainability lens and how to integrate futures thinking into our practice and our field.
Bio:
Caitlin Southwick is the Founder and Executive Director of Ki Culture and Sustainability in Conservation (SiC). She holds a Professional Doctorate in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage from the University of Amsterdam and is the Secretary of the Working Group on Sustainability for the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and a Climate Reality Project Leader.