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Objects

Photograph of object conservator using flashlight to inspect cylindrical sculpture

About


Object Conservation encompasses the most varied sector of the National Collection, from the monumental works in the Sculpture Garden to delicate feathers and bark paintings, through to art that includes exciting new synthetic materials, installation and time-based media. It is a field that covers sculpture, mechanical and electrical works of art, decorative arts and cultural objects. Each material has its own mechanisms of deterioration to understand, and try to allay, through scientific analysis of the materials response to the environmental forces of light, moisture and interactions with people. Many objects have cultural aspects or artists intentions that our conservators respect through consultation prior to any interventions.

Conservators may question if a sculpture is supposed to show the effects of time by being allowed to deteriorate, or does it need to be completely repainted as it must have a pristine surface? Can it be retouched, or is this culturally inappropriate? Does it need to function and therefore need ongoing maintenance for the entire duration of its display? Does it just need new lightbulbs? Object conservators venture into research and treatments for the structural integrity of these works, treatment of their surfaces, and repairs to keep them as the artist intended.

Photograph of object conservator on a scissor lift fixing a large red wax sculpture

Urs Fischer, Francesco, 2017, Purchased with the assistance of the National Gallery of Australia Gala Fund 2019. © Urs Fischer. Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ, London.

Photograph of object conservator kneeling and fixing large sculpture.

XU ZHEN®️, Hello, 2018–19, White Rabbit Collection, Sydney ©️ the artist

Photograph of object conservator mending a colourful large sculpture

Object conservator stitching loin cloth on Asax, Malakula, Armachtoertoer, 1973, Purchased by J-M Charpentier on behalf of the CAAB.

Photograph of object conservator welding small metal work
Photograph of object conservator on scissor lift checking large scale white sculpture

XU ZHEN®️ European Thousand-Armed Classical Sculpture 2014 (ed. 2/3) White Rabbit Collection, Sydney ©️ the artist

Stories and case studies


Analysing the Ambum Stone
Conservation analysis and treatment

A small prehistoric stone carved object in the form of an animal the resembles a long-beaked echidna.

A lucky find following a breakage allowed the National Gallery’s Conservation team to date and analyse the rare and mysterious Ambum stone.

Read Time 7 minutes

Inside Vivienne Binns’s Tower of Babel

Photograph of conservator checking small object with light

Vivienne Binns's Tower of Babel 1989 is a sculpture of 80 small dioramas mounted onto a wooden substrate and elevated on a pedestal.

Read Time 3 minutes
Conservation

How to fly Brancusi's Birds

A black tall sculpture is held together with a specially designed scaffold system

Installing Birds in Space by Constantin Brancusi is a complex, delicate procedure – writes Beata Tworek, Objects Conservator.

Read Time 6 minutes

Related


Ask a Conservator: 2020
#AskaConservator

A team of conservators in the conservation lab

Our conservators have answered some of the questions you posed on 2020 Ask a Conservator Day.

Read Time 19 minutes
Conservation

Preventive

Two women enclose a paper-wrapped object in a plastic bag to undergo preventative conservation

The Preventative Conservation team’s aim is to preserve all works of art by controlling the environment in which they are displayed and stored.

Australian Art /  Video

British makers on board the Rajah en route to Hobart 'The Rajah quilt'

Published 16 December 2010

The Rajah Quilt is one of Australia's important early textiles made by women convicts on the ship Rajah en route from England to Van Diemens land.

2 minutes
Australian Art /  Video

Behind the scenes: Photographing our Linda Jackson collection

A video still of a woman examining clothes on a mannequin

Published 28 September 2020

Take a peek behind the scenes of photographing Linda Jackson's collection for display in the Know My Name Exhibition.

38 seconds
Exhibition

Abracadabra
The magic in conservation

Past Exhibition
Ultraviolet image revealing locations of repairs and restorations via differing shades of purple light onhorse statue

28 Jul 2006—26 Nov 2006

Conservation

Paper

The Gallery's Paper Conservation team incorporates Mountcutting and Framing and is responsible for the conservation and preparation of works on paper.

Yuuma, Gurruburri

The National Gallery acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Kamberri/Canberra region, and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.

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Aerial view of artist Lola Greeno walking along Rocky Beach
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