A Revised Model for Decision-Making in Contemporary Art Conservation and Presentation

ABSTRACT In response to contemporary art forms and related conservation and presentation challenges, a research initiative at Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences reconsidered the renowned Decision-Making Model for the Conservation and Restoration of Modern and Contemporary Art. Since its publication in 1999, the model has served as a valuable tool for navigating through complex problems in modern and contemporary art conservation. Nevertheless, within the last decades, a need for revision has been revealed. To provide an updated guidance for conservation and presentation decisions, a multi-disciplinary working group re-evaluated the model within the context of recent research results and case studies, thereby considering: (1) the starting point in the individual case, (2) the often complex biographies of artworks, (3) the dynamics in decision-making, and (4) the juxtaposition of the current and desired state of an artwork to include decisions regarding preventive conservation and the presentation of ephemeral or inherently evolving artworks. Fish Flies on Sky (1985/95), a video installation by Nam June Paik, serves as an example to illustrate the different steps of the model. The research initiative was organized by Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, and Maastricht University.