“Try again / fail again / fail better,” is a quote by Samuel Beckett that inspired an exhibition at the Hamburger Kunsthalle in which artists explored the theme of failure. Custodians and conservators have faced new challenges when artist techniques and practices have moved from traditional towards less durable materials. The symposium will examine this practice as it raises questions that challenge a conservator’s aspiration to preserve the original material of an artwork.

The symposium is an opportunity to examine this practice in relation to sculptural works as it raises difficult questions that challenge a conservator’s aspiration to preserve the original material of an artwork – questions such as:

What constitutes ‘Failure’ in a work of art?
How important is the original?
Is the complete replacement of degraded artworks ever acceptable?
Are there problems about replacement if the artist sanctions it?
Is replacement that is contrary to an artist’s intention or the artist’s estate instructions ever justified?

Detailliertes Programm 

Text: http://arthist.net/archive/5942