The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works

The new December-January issue of “News in Conservation” is here! Enjoy all the stories and images from cover to cover. You can find the whole issue here: https://lnkd.in/ekTC9qwR

The next AGM will be held online and in London (venue to be confirmed) on Monday 27 January 2025. Cast your ballot today or at the meeting. Vote for President, Director of Emerging Professionals and Ordinary Member of Council positions.

This subject sparked a lot of interest and curiosity among the general public, leading to questions that prompted important reflections concerning the ethical concepts of conservation and restoration, as well as the terms we commonly use. Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/ePiQeuP9

If only the paintings in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum could tell the eerie secrets they hold; nearly 35 years ago, their many painted eyes witnessed perhaps the biggest art heist ever when, on 18 March 1990, 13 artworks were stolen right out of their frames. Read the whole story in “News in Conservation” Issue 104, October-November 2024, p. 6-7. https://lnkd.in/4G0r4+ Image credit: Frame of Stolen Rembrandt in the Dutch Room in the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum (2021) by ctj71081/Flickr. Licensed by CC BY-NC 2.0

During the 5th session of the IIC Lima Congress, three compelling presentations illuminated the urgent challenges and innovative solutions in heritage preservation, sparking thought-provoking discussions on the impact of climate change on cultural heritage. Read the full blog for a great summary: https://lnkd.in/ekrGTUkv

Chen Wen Hsi rose as a prominent artist in 1950s Singapore, instrumental in founding the Nanyang style of painting. His large work on paper, Gibbons (1977), is an example of his mastery of Chinese ink painting and is also notable for the extraordinarily large single sheet of rice paper (the largest every used by the artist as well as the largest sheet ever treated by Mariko Watanabe-Hirano, senior paper conservator at the Heritage Conservation Centre). Read the whole story in “News in Conservation” Issue 104, October-November 2024, p.7-8. https://lnkd.in/epeHn9Ya Image credit: Singapore $50 banknote with image of Chen Wen Hsi’s Gibbons (shutterstock photo ID 1750367885)

This discussion concluded with many expressions of gratitude for the collective effort and solidarity, openness to dialogue, and the incredible network of conservators we are. The online participants left feeling happy and eager to continue expanding on this topic in future meetings. https://lnkd.in/emW3SEbd

It is no secret that IIC’s 30th Congress was just held in Lima, Peru from 23 to 27 September. Once again, our Digital Engagement Volunteers (DEVs) wrote insightful reviews of each session, including highlights from the Q&As. Here we share with you excerpts from a few of these posts and invite you to view them all on the Congress Blog. Read our hand-picked selection in “News in Conservation” Issue 104, October-November 2024, p.48-57 https://lnkd.in/e2mMh5CU Image credit: A Congress attendee visiting Museo Larco during one of the Technical Tours. Photo by Nat Ulloa.

The main focus of this panel was to introduce a collaborative project that outlines the different responsibilities of participating countries. Uruguay was tasked with the education component, Argentina focused on projects and research, Peru was responsible for public policies, and Brazil addressed the recognition of the conservation profession. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e9HP6DCb

Join us at the Palace Museum in Beijing for the IIC-ITCC course and international symposium on Conservation and Restoration of Traditional Painting Techniques, from May 14–23, 2025. Applications due on 1st December 2024. https://lnkd.in/eP_Mk9Qd