The Conservation of Photographs is a relatively new discipline in the cultural heritage preservation field with its beginnings in the late 1960’s early 1970’s. However, it has its roots firmly grounded in the formative years of photography as practitioners and the emergent photographic industry grappled with its inherent instability. The treatment of faults in both material systems and their chemistries and the need to develop more stable photographic processes have hugely impacted and influenced the evolution of the photographic process itself. Today the result of materials and image instability continues to present huge challenges to contemporary users, photographers, the photographic industry, collectors and collections both public and private in the wider heritage field worldwide.
This seminar will look at the conservation of photographs past and present. It will also consider the huge challenges faced by both private and institutional collections, with regard to the future preservation of both historic and contemporary photography in all its diverse material forms. The preservation and conservation of contemporary photography alone is already presenting huge challenges to collections and conservators, presenting issues that are already impacting and will continue to impact collectors, the art market and ultimately the value and veracity of contemporary images.
Admission is free and open to all.
Ian L. Moor and Angela H. Moor
The Conservation of Historic and Contemporary Photographs
17.00, Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Research Forum South Room, The Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN
Ian and Angela Moor have been at the forefront of the development of photographic conservation in the UK since the early 1970s, both as researchers and developers of photographic conservation techniques, and as consultants and advisers to major collections of photography. They established The Centre for Photographic Conservation in 1981. Ian is a partner/director and Head of Conservation and Angela is Conservator Administrator at The Centre for Photographic Conservation.
Comments
Thanks for posting this. An Excellent talk by Ian and Angela. Ian left his audience in little doubt that even (and sometimes especially ) modern photographic materials are sadly at a constant risk of degrading as the years pass. Ian's knowledge and enthusiasm made this one of those events that could have gone on for hours! Many thanks for a very enjoyable and educational evening.