School of Historical and Philosophical Studies - Research Publications
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ItemDegradation profiles of silk textiles in diverse environments: Synchrotron based infrared micro-spectroscopy analysis(Springer, 2017)In this paper, synchrotron based infrared micro-spectroscopy was utilized to describe the degradation profile of fibroin contained in silk textiles (Bombyx mori). The spatial distributions of deterioration effects in silk samples artificially aged at an assortment of conditions (thermal, hydrolytic and ultraviolet) were distinctly visualised and in accordance with the findings from conventional infrared spectroscopy in references. Further this method was applied on a historic sample from a private collection in Melbourne, and presented consistent results. This established synchrotron IR chemical mapping method could enable museum professionals to better understand the preservation state of historic silk and make informed decisions for conservation.
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ItemRetablos & Santos: ‘Altaring’ The Life Of Philippine Heritage Through Future Generations(Aula Barat and Faculty of Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology, 2018)This paper aims to examine the role of living cultural heritage to materials conservation and restoration of retablos and santos at the National Museum of Fine Arts in the Philippines (NMP) and the Parish Church of La Purísima Concepción in Guiuan. In researching the restoration practices of cultural communities that retablos and santos hold significance to, this paper is framed by textual analysis, and interviews with heritage, ecclesiastic and conservation professionals. With ever-increasing cultural homogenisation, the importance of conservators working towards preventing cultural identities from being absorbed by universal discourses and popular cultures are argued in this paper. In reflecting upon knowledge systems and communication platforms that support conservation, the exchange of knowledge, its usability and wide audience possibilities as necessary pathways to preserving memory for living and future generations will be focused upon.
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ItemBetween Art and Heritage Conservation: An Examination of the Discipine, Profession and Professional Practice in Indonesia(Aula Barat and Faculty of Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology, 2018)Indonesia is witnessing a growth in the art market in addition to the increased protection of its national cultural heritage. This raises questions about the current position of art and heritage conservation as a profession, discipline, and professional practice in Indonesia to support the preservation of its ‘old culture (s)’. In addressing the themes of the conference, this paper examines the definition of conservation in Indonesia and explores the opportunities for the renewal of ‘old cultures’ for an Indonesian practice of conservation to emerge as distinct from other parts of the world. we argue that conservation should meet the ‘place-based’dimensions of tradition, living cultures, climate, materiality, and natural disasters. The approach used includes a literature review, archival research, policy analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The practices of neighbouring countries are also explored for comparative purposes. The results show that existing policies are in place to support the conservation of cultural materials in Indonesia; however, these do not address the development or sustainability of the profession and discipline for a shared thought style to emerge. The research also indicates that there is a distinct line of separation between the conservation of cultural heritage compared to the fine arts.
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ItemThe potential role of citizen conservation in re-shaping approaches to murals in an urban context(ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2016)Public visual spaces, populated by a blend of community murals, unauthorised street art, and historic painted mercantile signs, are often the mark of an urban environment that is both progressive and eclectic. Changes in the aesthetic and cultural value of these urban mural forms have led to an increase in the appreciation and, in some instances, promotion of their artistic merit and cultural significance as examples of public art. However, examining the significance of these works, with a view to implementing a conservation approach is problematic. This is due to a number of practical and theoretical considerations that are primarily a result of the ephemeral existence of urban murals outside conventional exhibition spaces, and issues associated with their often fragmented ownership and uncertain authorship. Consequently, larger thinking on the interpretation, conservation assessment, and advocacy for the conservation of urban murals are required. Key to defining and implementing such strategies is contextualising the public visual spaces that these murals occupy and, as part of this, the local and wider communities’ perception of these murals as culturally significant objects as well as fostering awareness and understanding of appropriate measures aimed at their conservation. This paper examines the role of citizen science, or crowd-sourcing, of local community members in establishing a conservation dialogue and generating conservation- relevant data on urban murals. It looks specifically at a project involving a collection of in situ historic painted mercantile signs — also known as ghost signs — in the City of Port Phillip, Melbourne, Australia. The project fostered the establishment of an informed and open dialogue between conservation specialists and participants from the local community on the significance of local ghost signs whilst transferring knowledge on conservation processes and assessment methods. Working directly with community members, a programme was designed in which conservation and community knowledge of these urban art forms, could be collected and exchanged across digital platforms. This enabled researchers to examine how citizen science can be utilised as a research tool as well as a means to advocate for the conservation of collections of urban murals. It created the opportunity to consider the role of non-specialists and shared authorities in the collection and collation of conservation- relevant data and how information generated from what we call citizen conservation projects, can inform the way in which conservators evaluate and prioritize the conservation of urban cultural heritage. The data gathered and interpreted proved to be the most effective means of ‘conserving’ these often ephemeral forms of cultural material.
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ItemInterviewing artists exhibited in The Field (1968): The use of acrylic paints in a seminal exhibition of Australian colour field painting(ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2016-01-01)Artist's interviews are a timely and important historical record of the technical significance of Australian colour field painting. The findings correlate and corroborate ongoing conservation research into the works featured in The Field, providing evidence to support the take-up and distribution of early acrylic paints in Australia. Overall, the artists' responses demonstrate a range of working methods and choice of materials. Col Jordan and Alun Leach-Jones were found to be fairly consistent with their choice of acrylic brands and technique, while other artists, like Ron Robertson-Swann, were more flexible and experimental in their approach. PVAC (polyvinyl acetate) paints were used along with, or in place of, acrylic emulsion paints for practical and economic reasons, revealing the challenges involved with investigating acrylic paints which emerged alongside a variety of other synthetic paints. These interviews reinforce the value of conservation enquiry to the field of art history and exhibition development.
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ItemArtists’ interviews and their use in conservation: reflections on issues and practices(Routledge - Taylor & Francis, 2016-12-21)Artists’ interviews are widely used in the conservation of contemporary art. Best practice is detailed in recent publications, conferences and workshops, however, there is little information on how to analyse the data collected, and the issues related to the dissemination and future access to the content. This article examines various techniques of analysis appropriated from qualitative research in the social sciences, and relates them to the intended uses of interviews in conservation. Drawing on a case study that involved interaction with an artist over several years, including interviews and informal conversations, this article argues that a conservators’ specific skills set has the capacity to interpret the findings and to understand the creative processes. It also highlights the importance of reflexivity and the public circulation of this interpretation, which is essential for the development of a sustainable practice of artists’ interviews in conservation.
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ItemEditorial: AICCM Bulletin 2018 Vol 39 Issue 1(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2018-01-02)
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ItemIdentification of cellulose nitrate based adhesive repairs in archaeological pottery of the University of Melbourne's Middle Eastern archaeological pottery collection using portable FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and PCA(BMC, 2017-01-19)A previous study of the Cypriot pottery collection housed in the Ian Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne found approximately two-thirds of adhesive repairs are primarily composed of cellulose nitrate (CN). This is of concern as CN has a limited lifespan (6–20 years), which has implications for the strategic management of the collection. To gain a greater understanding of the prevalence of CN based adhesive repairs in the archaeological context, the original FTIR-ATR spectroscopic survey was extended to incorporate the University’s Middle Eastern archaeological pottery collection. Micro-samples were removed from artefacts using acetone swabs. Analysis of adhesive FTIR spectra identified CN to be present not only as the primary polymer in approximately one-tenth of repairs, but also as a secondary polymer in poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and acrylic adhesive formulations, observed as a weak peak at ~1656 cm−1. CN’s secondary presence in PVAc adhesive formulations is demonstrated using principal component analysis (PCA) and the diphenylamine spot test for CN. Re-analysis of adhesive IR spectra from the Cypriot pottery collection found CN to be present as a secondary polymer in this collection as well. It is concluded a combined methodology of collecting and identifying FTIR-ATR spectra of adhesive repairs from archaeological pottery collections followed by PCA analysis bring to light adhesive formulations which can inform the management of pottery collections.
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ItemTea: An Alternative Adsorbent for the Preservation of Cellulose Triacetate Film(Australian Institute for the Conversation of Cultural Material Inc, 2017)Cellulose triacetate (CTA) film, the main film base of the Twentieth Century, is inherently unstable, affected by autocatalytic deterioration through hydrolysis. The release of, and subsequent exposure to, acetic acid known as ‘vinegar syndrome’ accelerates deterioration, placing all cellulose acetate materials at risk or actively deteriorating. Preservation techniques rely on cold storage to slow deterioration or microenvironments with adsorbent materials to remove corrosives and/or pollutants. However, commercially available adsorbents can be expensive and difficult to access. This research investigated the potential for tea and tea waste to act as an alternative, low cost, accessible adsorbent for the preservation of CTA film. Adsorption capabilities of various tea varieties and treatments were compared with activated charcoal, silica gel and molecular sieves. Testing established tea as an effective adsorbent of water and acetic acid vapour, with an aversion to adsorption of the plasticiser dibutyl-phthalate. Use of tea waste also involves additional cost, sustainability and accessibility benefits along with lessened corrosive potential. These findings support tea as a potentially viable alternative adsorbent for the preservation of CTA film, requiring further research into optimum application systems.
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ItemNo Preview Available[Review of the book Settler Society in the Australian Colonies: Self-Government and Imperial Culture, by Angela Woollacott](Taylor and Francis Group, 2016-03-09)