Installation Art and the Museum : Presentation and Conservation of Changing Artworks

Abstract

Installation art has become mainstream in artistic practices. However, acquiring and displaying such artworks means that curators and conservators are challenged to deal with obsolete technologies, ephemeral materials, and other issues concerning care and management of these artworks. By analyzing three in-depth case studies, the author sheds new light on the key concepts of traditional conservation—authenticity, artist’s intention, and the notion of ownership—while exploring how these concepts apply in contemporary art conservation.