Online workshop on research in conservation-restoration of outdoor sculptures organised by the University of Split – Arts Academy
An online workshop on research related to the conservation-restoration of outdoor metal sculptures was held from December 16, 2020 to February 2, 2021. The workshop was organised and led by Sagita Mirjam Sunara (University of Split – Arts Academy), and was delivered on Facebook. It was open to students of conservation-restoration study programmes in Croatia and neighbouring countries.
The workshop had 25 registered participants; conservation-restoration students from universities in Split, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). There were also two participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina who had a Bachelor’s degree in architecture. Although the workshop was intended for students, curator Alja Pfeifer from the Božidar Jakac Gallery in Kostanjevica na Krki (Slovenia), manager of the Erasmus+ project Re/Forma Viva, also followed the program. She was looking for inspiration for her project’s educational activities.
The workshop discussed different avenues of research, from art-historical to technical studies, using the Sisak Steelworks Sculpture Park as a case study. The program included six lectures, all of which were prepared and delivered by the members of the Croatian research group:
— Sagita Mirjam Sunara (University of Split – Arts Academy), Sisak Steelworks Sculpture Park: history of the collection, review of the past conservation-restoration workshops and of the CAPuS project
— Sagita Mirjam Sunara (University of Split – Arts Academy), Jelena Hudinčec (University of Split – Arts Academy), Research into text-based and visual resources
— Josipa Bilić (Metris), Analytical techniques and methods used on samples from the Sisak Steelworks Sculpture Park
— Neven Peko (Sisak Municipal Museum), Research into methods for the removal of degraded coatings, and the testing of new coating systems for application on sculptures from the Sisak Steelworks Sculpture Park
— Neven Peko (Sisak Municipal Museum), Research into methods for the removal of degraded coatings, and the testing of new coating systems for the application on the sculptures from the Sisak Steelworks Sculpture Park: overview of the methods of testing and characterisation
— Sagita Mirjam Sunara (University of Split – Arts Academy), Exploring the possibilities: from non-intervention to an extensive conservation-restoration treatment
The workshop also included an icebreaker activity on Padlet, a quiz contest about the Sisak Steelworks Sculpture Park, the screening of the documentary Time Has Not Helped, several consultation meetings with the workshop instructor, and a problem-based learning assignment.
The assignment was focused on a vandalised sculpture from the Sisak Steelworks Sculpture Park; the participants explored options for a minimal intervention and non-intervention, and looked into the possibilities for the sculpture to be presented in situ and in a museum setting. Students presented their proposals in the form of a video presentation. Certificates of attendance were issued to the participants who completed the problem-based assignment.
At the end of the workshop, a survey-style questionnaire was sent out to the participants to get feedback on their overall experience. Here are some of their comments:
“Through this workshop I learned that there a number of ways to conserve and restore an object.”
“The workshop has taught me the importance of documentation in the field of conservation-restoration, and opened my eyes to the possibilities offered by modern technologies. The format was great. I really liked being able to adapt the workshop activities to my own schedule.”
“I have learned that online workshops are as much fun and as informative as those held face-to-face.”
Recommended Posts
Work Package 10 (Dissemination): Final Report
January 2, 2022
Recordings of the CAPuS final event now available!
July 6, 2021
