The Beyeler Foundation in Basel has won international renown with its exhibitions of celebrated artists of the last three centuries. Keeeping these masterpieces in mint condition is a constant challenge for conservators.
This content was published on
1 minute
Meticulous detective work is carried out behind the scenes, using hi-tech devices to uncover imperfections caused by the transportation of works of art and the aging process. Swiss TV looks at the lengths to which the foundation has had to go to refurbish works by two French artists, Henri Matisse and Fernand Léger, who were contemporaries. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Saving contemporary art from self-destruction
This content was published on
Man-made materials crack, spare parts for sculptures disappear and audio-visual equipment becomes obsolete. The use of untested or degradable materials, new media, performances and conceptual art since the 1970s has transformed the profession of art restoration and introduced new specialisations. It has also become more complex with questions surfacing of whether all contemporary art should…
This content was published on
Synthetic materials make their way into works of art, as do combinations of used materials like paper, wood or terracotta with modern lacquers and glue. Using scientific methods the students set up an artificial ageing process and document and analyse the chemical and physical reactions of the materials. All part of their special training. (Pictures:…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.