The Destruction and Restoration of Works of Art
Great care goes into preserving and restoring works of art
ARTIC is a blockchain-based art gallery platform which uses its own NFT ecosystem to tokenize art masterpieces. ARTIC hopes users will reconsider their perception of art in this new application of the blockchain. ARTIC provides both tangible and intangible services that can lead to the exhibition of domestic and foreign works of art, and further encourage the exchange of art around the globe.
Welcome to ARTIC!
In today’s article, we take a look at some of the ways precious works of art can be damaged whether through war or malice. We’ll also look at how professional art restorers can fix these problems and undo years of damage. We hope you enjoy learning about some of the ways experts around the world preserve and restore art!
The Destruction of Works of Art
Vandalism
Vandalism refers to an act involving the deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property. Vandalism includes damaging public facilities or spraying graffiti on public property.
In Korean history, the Tang army destroyed cultural items from Goguryeo and Baekje during the Three Kingdoms War. During the Goryeo Dynasty, when Mongolia invaded, a nine-story wooden pagoda at Hwangnyongsa Temple, known to be the largest and most beautiful temple at the time, was destroyed and many other cultural relics were burned down.
In western history, on May 21, 1972, a Hungarian man named Laszlo Toth attacked Michelangelo’s Pietà statue with a hammer. In just fifteen blows, he knocked off Mary’s eyelids, nose, left arm, and fingers. He was subdued by the shocked crowd and found to be mentally unstable.
The Restoration of Works of Art
In the old Japanese film, Between Calm and Passion, a young man named Junsei trains to become an oil painting restorer in Firenze, Italy. Junsei describes art restorers as mailmen delivering works of art from the past to the future. They can take paintings that have been destroyed or lost to time and bring them back to life.
Some people even argue that art is alive because it will never stay the same. No matter how well you try to preserve it, the painting will be damaged by microorganisms or the original color will fade due to sun damage. All of the art we can enjoy at museums today, painted by famous artists 500 years ago, is due to the hard work of preservation.
Damaged art has been brought back to its original glory in various ways by restorers throughout the ages. Restorers are often likened to doctors. They should also diagnose and fix problems. Further, just as a doctor needs 5 to 10 years of training to become a specialist, restorers should earn at least a master’s degree and study for many years.
The core job of a restorer is to clean and repair art well. Restorers should be able to clean, dissolve, wipe, or brush off any contaminants on the work. Additionally, they need to be able to attach or repair any parts there were ripped, torn, or broken. Knowledge of chemistry and materials science is also essential. Restorers should know which solvents might destroy oil paintings when applied or they might cause a terrible accident ruining masterpieces that are hundreds of years old.
In addition, X-rays and ultraviolet rays can help restorers determine the current level of damage to the work, not visible to the naked eye, and identify what the artist originally intended when they first created the work. Rather than transforming the art into a new piece, restorers should focus on restoring the work based on the colors, shapes, etc. that were originally intended by the artist.
An example of art restoration in Korea occurred with Niki de Saint Phalle’s Black Nana. It had been on display for three long years at the outdoor garden of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Gwacheon. As a result, the paint became discolored and started to peel, and the entire sculpture needed to be repainted in order to preserve it. Accordingly, both internal and external experts of the museum continually consulted with the Niki de Saint Phalle Foundation to decide on the proper direction, methodology, and treatment of the work of art in order to preserve it in accordance with the intention of the original artist.
As we’ve covered today, it is not only important to preserve the art but also the intention of the artist. An art restorer’s job is very complicated and important. We hope you’ve enjoyed this article and we invite you to consider how NFTs can solve some of the aforementioned issues.
