Tag: Conservation Research
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Creative Solutions for Conservation Challenges in Thailand
The University of Melbourne has been collaborating with Silpakorn University, Thailand, since 1995. Most recently, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Arts and Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Science and Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts. In March 2023 the University of Melbourne hosted an Incoming Research and Training Visit for residents of Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Science. During the visit, Assistant Professor Sutinee Girdthep and Dr Nattawan Worawannotai presented their work on the conservation of Thai heritage. Recent Master of Cultural Materials Conservation graduate Gen Schiesser reflects on the presentations below. -
Marles Medal for Professor Robyn Sloggett
Professor Robyn Sloggett was awarded the 2021 Marles Medal in Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Melbourne in recognition of her extraordinary achievements as a scholar and practitioner of cultural materials conservation whose work has had far-reaching impact both within and beyond the academy. Robyn is both a pioneer and a revolutionary force: […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/shaps-research/2023/10/18/marles-medal-for-professor-robyn-sloggett
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New Perspectives on Filipino Textile Weaving
There is a long and rich tradition of textile weaving in the Philippines. In October 2022 Dr Ana Labrador, currently Honorary Senior Fellow at the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, gave a talk exploring different approaches to Filipino weaving practices and the challenges that they pose for conservators and for craft researchers. Her wideranging […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/shaps-research/2023/03/06/new-perspectives-on-filipino-textile-weaving
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Conserving the World’s Oldest Processional Dragon
For the last year, Grimwade Conservation Services has been conserving Loong 龍, the oldest intact Imperial processional dragon in the world. Dr Holly Jones-Amin, Senior Conservator at Grimwade Conservation Services, and Leigh McKinnon from Bendigo’s Golden Dragon Museum tell us more in this article, republished from Pursuit. Loong is a 40-metre long, five-clawed (or imperial) […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/shaps-research/2022/11/25/conserving-the-worlds-oldest-processional-dragon
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The Technical Study of Bernini’s Bronzes
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680) is famous for his contribution to Baroque Roman architecture and sculpture. Less well known is the fact that multiple bronze duplicates of his work were cast from his models. These have been generally neglected by art historians and conservators, partly under the influence of enduring myths about artistic genius and authorship. […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/shaps-research/2022/09/26/the-technical-study-of-berninis-bronzes
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Yackandandah Museum Fire Project
In 2006, the small country town of Yackandandah in north-eastern Victoria lost precious cultural heritage when its museum was damaged by fire. In 2021, Grimwade Masters students Maddy Fraser, Joshua Loke and Samantha Rogers won a Willem Snoek Conservation Award to support a project aimed at assisting the local community and Yackandandah & District Historical […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/shaps-research/2022/06/27/yackandandah-museum-fire-project
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The PolyMuse Project
PolyMuse is one of the major research projects currently underway at the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation. The aim of the project is to develop suitable methods for conserving plastics (polymers) in collections across museums, galleries and even university archives. Of particular concern are the rapidly degrading and highly damaging plastics known as ‘malignant […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/shaps-research/2021/05/26/polymuse-project
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Music, Physics, and Conservation: An Interview with Dr Gea Parikesit
Music and physics are interconnected in ways that are not only fascinating but also crucial for how we go about conserving musical instruments. Grimwade Centre Visiting Scholar Dr Gea Parikesit applies his scientific expertise to enhance our understanding of musicality and how to care for musical instruments. Ashley Hayes spoke with him about his ongoing […] -
Empowering Communities through Shared Learning
For the last nine years, conservator and Grimwade Centre PhD candidate, Sophie Lewincamp, has been investigating how conservators can better engage with community knowledge in a productive and equal way. Combining extensive on-the-ground experience with academic research and critical reflection, Sophie has developed a new community engagement framework called the Tiered Contact Zones Model. In […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/shaps-research/2020/12/22/empowering-communities
