CHALLENGES IN CONTEMPORARY ART CONSERVATION
A Conference on New Practices and Research on the Conservation
of Contemporary Works of Art

The Espacio Fundación Telefónica and Fundación TyPA would like to announce a call for papers to participate in the conference: CHALLENGES IN CONTEMPORARY ART, which will take place on September 16 and 17, 2010.

The objective of this meeting is to reflect on the ways in which decisions are made regarding the conservation of contemporary works of art. We will discuss the problems that stem from the use of new materials, advances in technology, the ephemeral characteristics of many works of art and the resulting crisis around the term “collection”. We will also analyze the questionable complexes posed by facilities’ documentation processes, the ethical problems brought about by restoring works that no longer exist or which can no longer achieve their original functions, as well as other aspects relating to these themes.

Unlike the past, there is no longer a unanimously accepted methodology for the conservation of contemporary art. As materials, technologies and concepts are practically infinite, recording the range of possible interventions is of utmost importance. This conference aims to bring to our attention the current debate that exists in Argentina and contribute to sharing some solutions that have been made in the recent past.

We have invited representatives from institutions renowned for their experience in the field of art conservation: The Getty Conservation Institute (United States), Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Spain), The Museum of Modern Art [MoMA] (Unites States), The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (Unites States) and INCCA [International Network for the Conservation of Contemporary Art]. These special guests will exchange their experience with representatives from local museums and the participating public.

The call for papers is aimed at researchers, conservators, curators, art historians, museologists, people who work at museums, cultural centers and similar institutions, art teachers, artists and/or independent theorists who have had some connection with the conservation and research of contemporary works of art. We will accept papers focusing on specific case studies as well as those with a more general approach to the subject.

A committee will select up to six papers to be presented during the conference. Furthermore, up to fifteen PowerPoint presentations will be accepted and projected on the first floor of the Foundation during the event.

The conference will take place during the restoration of MINUPHONE, by artist Marta Minujín, entrusted to the Espacio Fundación Telefónica, and used as a case study.

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS:
Until August 13, 2010 (inclusive)

1/ PAPERS
Unpublished research projects that contribute original information to the debate. The papers shall contain no more than 32,000 characters (spaces and footnotes included), in A4 format, 1.5 line spacing, Times New Roman 12 pt font.
Send the following documents to recursos.museos@typa.org.ar (until 13 August):

1. Application form, signed and completed (download from www.typa.org.ar)
   File name: author surname_form
2. Paper, including author’s personal information (job title, institution, country, email)
   File name: author surname_paper
3. Summary / abstract (no longer than 300 words)
   File name: author surname_abstract

The papers must not exceed the proposed number of characters; this is required for their evaluation and eventual publication.

The authors whose papers are selected shall present them during the Conference. They will be given 20 minutes, and video projection will be made available. There will be time for discussion at the end of each presentation. The Conference will take place in Spanish with simultaneous translation into English.

2/ POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
We will also consider the electronic presentation of in-progress group or individual research projects. These presentations shall be concise, containing the main hypothesis, problems, materials and status of the research not exceeding 7 minutes. The presentations must be presented in PowerPoint format on a CD-Rom and together with the:

1. Application form, signed and completed (download from www.typa.org.ar)
   File name: author surname_form
2. Summary / abstract (no longer than 300 words)
   File name: author surname_abstract

They should be sent to the address below (until August 13):

Fundación TyPA
Ortega y Gasset 1983 – 1º
(1426) Ciudad de Buenos Aires - Argentina

The chosen projects will be projected in the Espacio Plasma, on the first floor of the Fundación Telefónica, during the conference.

WE WILL ANNOUNCE OUR FINAL SELECTION OF PROJECTS AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2010.

3/ PUBLICATION
After the Conference, an editorial committee will make a selection of papers which we plan to publish in book format. Therefore, be aware the by participating in the conference you are granting us the right to reproduce the papers presented. The inclusion of illustrations and/or graphic material shall be determined by the technical and financial resources available at the time of publishing.

We would like to thank The Getty Conservation Institute for its collaboration.

----
CHALLENGES IN CONTEMPORARY ART CONSERVATION
A Conference on New Practices and Research on the Conservation of Contemporary Works of Art
September 16-17, 2010
Coordinated by: Américo Castilla (Fundación TyPA)
Espacio Fundación Telefónica, Arenales 1540, Buenos Aires
Call for papers and PowerPoint presentations: until August 13

Marta Minujin ©2005

Download open call documents

Dirección postal
Ortega y Gasset 1983, 1er piso.
C1426DHI – Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Argentina