Modern & Contemporary Art

Art Conservation Europe B.V. has experience in the field of conservation and restoration of modern and contemporary art. We work with various materials, including plastics, food art, kinetic art, outdoor sculptures, conceptual art, to mixed-media installations.

The preservation of modern and contemporary art is often complex. It usually has excellent substantive complexity in combination with a variety of materials. Modern materials used by artists often begin to age from day one, which can be noticeable in aesthetic appearance and impair their material integrity. This instability means that the materials often have a relatively short lifespan. Hybridity (combination of different materials) usually also occurs, making treatment more difficult. Based on specialised knowledge, ethics and multidisciplinary thinking, our restorer can do justice to the work of art by treating it appropriately.

For all your questions about the conservation and restoration of modern & contemporary art, please contact us to discuss the options.
 

Preventive conservation comprises a whole range of indirect measures and actions aimed at optimising the environment of your objects. We can offer you support regarding the climatic conditions, packaging and presentation of modern and contemporary art.

You can contact us for a variety of treatments:

Cleaning | Consolidation | Stabilising scratches or cracks | Applying fillings | Retouching | Applying a protective coating | Manufacturing of reconstructions/replicas

Documentation is of great importance. After the treatment, a final report is drawn up in which all examinations and treatments are described in detail, based on photos. This offers the customer insight into the restoration process. Openness about our work is an essential pillar within our company.

Sub-areas

Outdoor sculptures | Conceptual art | Food art| Installation art | Kinetic art | Plastics in art | Country art | Minimalist art | Mixed Media | Monochrome surfaces

Artists

Ad Dekker | Joseph Beuys | Tom Claassen | Lucio Fontana | Guido Geelen | Folkert de Jong | John Kormeling | Joep van Lieshout | Jan van Schoonhoven | Peter Struycken | Carl Visser | André Volten

We offer various research methods aimed at optical and material-technical research. The research results can be used to aid treatments and gather information about the cultural-historical background of the work.

  • Microscopic examination: stereomicroscope, the possibility of cross-sections

  • Ultraviolet Fluorescence

  • Infrared reflectography

  • Active and passive thermography

  • H-RTI

  • Photogrammetry

Artist's intention

We are specialised in artist interviews. The artist interview offers the opportunity to collect as much substantive, technical and intentional information as possible about the works of art. Due to the complexity of materials with various ageing processes, the artist interview can provide essential information for the future and allow the decision-making process to be carried out in an ethically responsible manner.

Meet our experts

Conservation and Restoration of Modern & Contemporary Art

A selection of our work