conservation pt.2

Question 1

moulds

Answer 1

moulds are fungi that can live on almost any maerials that can offer moisture and organic nutrients e.g oil based paints.

Question 2

how to prevent mould?

Answer 2

control environmental conditions in display and storage areas so the relative humidty should remain below 70% and to keep display and storage areas clean and ventilation

Question 3

what can mould cause?

Answer 3

the breakdown of the physical structures of a work of art; paper for example, can become very soft and spongy, liable to disintegration
-also can cause surface staining

Question 4

how does mould happen?

Answer 4

due to poor ventilation

Question 5

What are the most commonly found atmospheric pollutants are?

Answer 5

-CO2
-nitrous oxides
-ozone
-particular matter
-cigeratte smoke

Question 6

what happens to artworks when they are exposed to atmospheric pollutants and dust?

Answer 6

-corrosion (e.g metals)
-acid damage (e.g stone)
-staining and soiling (e.g paper)
-chemical reactions (e.g tarnishing of silver, blackening of lead-based pigments).
-physical breakdown (e.g textiles)

Question 7

what can protect from atmospheric pollutants and dust?

Answer 7

-display cases for objects
-frames and glazing for flat works for art

Question 8

What can Insects do?

Answer 8

insects are capable of attacking works of art and they feed on objecs made of organic materials
-insects droppings = also concearn bc can stain artwork

Question 9

what are the treatment of affected objects due to insects?

Answer 9

-the objects is placed in a special kind of plastic bag; oxyegen is then removed from the bag and replaced with nitrogen.
- in some circumstances, the infested object is subjected to freezing, at temperture found -20 degrees, for a period of 2 weeks

Question 10

what can pests do to artworks

Answer 10

pests such as mice, rats and other rodents are capable of gnawing or soiling any work of art, in particular ethnographic works

Question 11

what should storage areas condition should be?

Answer 11

storage areas should be designed to provide optimal levels of temperture, relative humidity and air purity
- must be kept as dark as possible
- no works are ever stored directly on the floor bc of an event of a disaster
- storage areas should be regulaury monitired

Question 11

storage systems?

Answer 11

storage systems are designed to protect works of art and not only form environmental priblems but also from physical damage and from direct handling.

Question 11

what are in storage systems?

Answer 11

-metals (sliding screens for framed paintings
-wood (crates for sculptures)
-high quality paper and mountboard (for works on paper and photographs)

Question 12

What transportation should look like>

Answer 12

great care must be taken when works of art are being transported; some works are considered so fragile that they are never loaned to other institutions for exhibition.

Question 12

conservation of contemporay artworks?

Answer 12

-contemporary artists may also use non-traditional materials whose properties are not fully known
- conservators must also be very aware of the integrity of a work where the artists does not want the work to be preserved e.g where detoriation = part of artwork.