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Time-Based Media Art

It's a portrait image of Urs Fischer from in front and below, so he's looking at his phone. Not yet melted enough to have any dripping wax bits

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


Time-based media art describes works of art that are dependent on time, duration, or function. This includes: video, film and audio artworks that have a duration; installation artworks; and artworks that function only for the duration of their time on display, such as computer-based and mechanical works of art.

The wide range of complex technologies used to create works of art like these pose unique challenges as the hardware and software are specific to the technologies available at the time of manufacture. The role of a Time-Based Media Conservator is to assess the long-, medium- and short-term changes that an artwork may undergo because of changing technologies, practices, and environments. At the National Gallery this includes: migrating and digitising audio-visual films and videos; repairing, and organising replacements for mechanical works of art; preparing time-based works of art for display or loan; providing on-going maintenance for complex works of art on display; and undertaking extensive documentation.


Time-Based Media Artworks


  • Claes Oldenburg

    Ice bag - scale B
    1971

  • James Turrell

    Bindu shards
    2010

  • Bruce Nauman

    The true artist helps the world by revealing mystic truths (Window or wall sign)
    1967

  • James Turrell

    Joecar (red)
    1968

  • Dan Flavin

    monument to V. Tatlin
    1966-69

  • Peter Kennedy

    A language of the dead
    1997-98

  • Kara Walker

    Testimony: Narrative of a Negress Burdened by Good Intentions
    2004

  • Christian Thompson, Bidjara people

    Berceuse
    2017

  • Tromarama

    Quandary
    2016

  • Agatha Gothe-Snape

    POWERPOINTS.
    2008 - 2021

  • Urs Fischer

    Francesco
    2017


On demand videos


  • International Art /  Video

    Urs Fischer 'Francesco'

    A video still of a man lighting the wick of an artwork

    Published 2019

    2 minutes
  • Behind the scenes /  Video

    Urs Fischer 'Francesco' install

    A video still of the installing of an artwork in a gallery

    Published 2019

    35 seconds
  • Australian Art /  Video

    Installing Mikala Dwyer's 'The Silvering'

    Screenshot of a video showing a huge silver inflated installation being raised to the roof of a gallery space.

    Published 31 August 2021

    1 minute
  • International Art /  Video

    James Turrell: A Retrospective

    A video still of three people in a large art installation

    Published 11 March 2014

    30 seconds
  • For Kids & Families /  Video

    Enlighten 2013

    A video still of a large projection on a building

    Published 26 March 2013

    1 minute
  • Artist Interviews /  Video

    Daniel Crooks In Conversation
    Structured Light: Enlighten 2022

    Screenshot from a video close-up shot of a man talking and smiling

    Published 15 March 2022

    Auslan Interpretation Closed Captions
    22 minutes
  • Australian Art /  Video

    Club Ate ‘In Muva We Trust’
    Enlighten 2020

    Video still of an artwork projected on the National Gallery building

    Published 2020

    3 minutes
  • Know My Name /  Video

    Jo Lloyd: Archive the archive

    Video still of three women dancing.

    Published 2020

    12 minutes
  • Talks & Lectures /  Video

    Art Talk with Yvette Dal Pozzo
    Agatha Gothe-Snape’s 'POWERPOINTS'

    image of artwork accompanied by text 'Yvette Dal Pozzo on Agatha Goth-Snape's POWERPOINTS'

    Published 26 August 2021

    6 minutes
  • Australian Art /  Video

    Peter Kennedy 'A language of the dead'

    Video still of man looking at artwork.

    Published 2014

    5 minutes
  • First Nations /  Video

    Tony Albert 'I am Visible'
    Enlighten 2019

    Published 2019

    3 minutes

Related


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.

Conservation

a man using cleaning tools to perform conservation on a painting in a laboratory

The Gallery's Conservation Department ensures the legacy of the national collection via the long-term preservation of works of art.

Conservation

Painting

A woman uses a cotton bud to clean a painting

Painting Conservators are responsible for their maintenance and preservation, as well as advising on hanging, handling and installation.

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
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
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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