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Paper

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The Gallery's Paper Conservation team incorporates Mountcutting and Framing and is responsible for the conservation and preparation of works of art on paper in the national collection for internal exhibitions, travelling exhibitions and loans to Australian and international institutions. The collection comprises a diverse range of works of art on paper including prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, books, manuscripts, folding screens, scrolls, and a variety of other mixed media works.

Works of art on paper can be either incredibly fragile or tremendously robust depending on the source and quality of the paper fibres and the method of manufacture. External environmental factors also play a huge role in the longevity of a paper artefact. As well as treating and repairing damaged works on paper, the Paper Conservation team strive to preserve the collection by maintaining close-to-ideal storage, handling and display conditions and using only archival quality mounting materials. Our Paper Conservators can just as often be seen installing a delicate piece in the galleries or condition-reporting works for loan as undertaking treatments on damaged art, or using scientific analysis to identify media, materials and artist’s technique.

A conservator stands at table working on two brightly-coloured works of art

Margaret Worth, Samsara 13, 1968, Purchased 1994 and Normana Wight, Untitled - yellow to blue, 1967, Gift of the artist 2013. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Close up photograph of illustrated paper fan

Amie Kingston, Fan: design for untitled ballet with music by Esther Rofe, c.1943, Gift of the artist 1988.

a number of small works of art on paper are laid out on a table for conservation treatment

Thea Proctor The Game 1926 and The Swing 1925 ©️ Art Gallery of New South Wales]

A woman sits at a desk cross-checking a work of art on paper with an image on a computer screen

Paper Conservation with Thea Proctor’s ‘The swing.’, 1925, purchased 1973, © Art Gallery of New South Wales

Photograph of conservator looking at paper work under microscope

Related


The Kenneth E. Tyler Collection

Paper: the next frontier

The Kenneth Tyler collection team discusses the innovative ways in which handmade papers were used in Tyler print workshops.

Read Time 12 minutes
Conservation

Objects

Photograph of object conservator using flashlight to inspect cylindrical sculpture

Object Conservation encompasses the most varied sector of the collection, from monumental works in the Sculpture Garden to delicate bark paintings.

The Kenneth E. Tyler Collection

Ellsworth Kelly’s ‘Colored paper images’

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The Kenneth E. Tyler Collection curators share some archival photos of Ellsworth Kelly’s creation of 'Colored paper images'

Read Time 9 minutes
Conservation

Textiles

Photograph of textile conservator working on three hanging robes on display

All textile objects have a natural deterioration process — slowing that down while retaining original features is the key aim of Textile Conservators.

The Kenneth E. Tyler Collection

Paper Rain: Rauschenberg, the document & archive

Black and White photograph of Robert Rauschenberg in the Miami Herald archives, 1979.

David Greenhalgh, NGA Curatorial Assistant, dives into the Kenneth Tyler Archive and soaks up the vision of ‘American Master’ Robert Rauschenberg.

Read Time 20 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

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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The National Gallery acknowledges the First Peoples of this land and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country

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Aerial view of artist Lola Greeno walking along Rocky Beach
Aerial view of artist Lola Greeno walking along Rocky Beach
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