Lectures:
- History of contemporary artistic techniques; methods and materials of works of art created in the period dating from the industrial age to the present day.
- Materials used in contemporary art: atypical supports, commercial ground layers, commercial oil and synthetic based binders, pastels, water-colors, pens and markers, plastics, paper materials of the XX and XXI centuries.
- Artist’s Homes: focus on the collections of Artists homes in the Tuscia area: Bonaria Manca. Alessandro Kokocinski, Serpara Park.
- Critical weaknesses in contemporary and/or poly material works, with regard to their technique of execution: deterioration and conservation. Conservation problems of twentieth and twenty-first century works on paper.
- Introduction to contemporary art conservation: distinction between deterioration foreseen and accepted by the artist and unplanned-for decay. Problems of balance in conservation interventions on contemporary works and the relationship with the artist’s will and intent.
- Consolidants and adhesives for artworks and their methods of application.
- Removal of surface dirt and cleaning of recent works. Sensitivity of synthetic materials to traditional solvents and problems in cleaning.
- Pictorial integration and the use of varnishes in modern and contemporary painting.
- Special problems in the treatment of contemporary works: conserving “the idea” and the conservation of installations.

Technique and conservation of contemporary works: laboratory and on-site projects
- Creation of reproductions of modern and contemporary artworks, researching original procedures and techniques, and applying them in order to learn new methodologies.
- Structural analysis and creation of state of conservation reports on the works which will be conserved during the course (Siveri, Kokocinski,Separa Park, SMA collections).
- Types of endogenous and exogenous damage.
- Digitally supported graphic documentation.
- Removal of surface deposits using current techniques
- Cleaning and removal of repaints and extraneous additions based on cleaning tests
- Disinfection of biological growth and treatment of insect infestations
- Consolidation using various methods and re-creation of missing areas with compatible materials
- Filling and structural integration
- Aesthetic reintegration
- Protection of the artwork
- Designing and developing a conservation report
- Photographic documentation and its place in the conservation report
- Examples of conservation interventions
- Interviews with the artist, or those close to the artist (where possible)

Various authors, Arte contemporanea, conservazione e restauro, contributi al colloquio sul restauro dell’arte moderna e contemporanea, Firenze, Nardini, 1994
Arte contemporanea. Le ricerche internazionali dalla fine degli anni '50 ad oggi. Edited by F. Poli, Milano, Electa, 2009 (first ed. 2003)
Banik G., Cremonesi P., de LA Chapelle A., Montalbano L., Nuove metodologie nel restauro del materiale cartaceo, I Talenti, Saonara (PD), Il Prato, 2003
Bordini S., Arte contemporanea e tecniche. Materiali, procedimenti, sperimentazioni, Roma, Carocci, 2007
Chiantore O., Rava A., Conservare l’arte contemporanea problemi, metodi, materiali, e ricerche, Milano, Ed. Electa, 2005
Crook J., Learner T., The Impact of Modern Paints, Los Angeles, The Getty Conservation Institute, 2000
M. Daudin-Schotte,H. Van Keulen,K. J. Van den Berg, Analisi e applicazione di materiali per la pulitura a secco di superfici dipinte non verniciate, Ediz. Bilingue, Quaderni del Cesmar7, Saonara (PD), Il Prato, 2014
Kermes, La rivista del Restauro, Restaurare l'Arte contemporanea? Fascicolo monografico, Anno XXVIII, Numero 98, Torino, Lexis, Aprile-Giugno 2015
Giordano R. C., Il restauro della carta, Teoria e Tecnica, Palermo, L’Epos, 2000
Iazurlo P., Valentini F., Conservazione dell’arte contemporanea temi e problemi. Un’esperienza didattica, Saonara (PD), Il Prato, 2010
I Materiali cartacei, Le antologie di ‘OPD restauro’, a cura di C. Frosinini, Firenze, Centro Di, 2006
Modern Paints Uncovered: Proceedings from the Modern Paints Uncovered Symposium, May 16–19, London, Tate Modern, 2006
Mundici M.C., Rava A., editors, Cosa cambia, teorie e pratiche del restauro nell’arte contemporanea, Milano, Skira, 2012
Sánchez Pons M., Fuster López L., Shank W., Conservation Issues in Modern and Contemporary Murals, Cambridge, Scholars Publishing, 2015
Shashoua, Y., Conservation of Plastics: Materials Science, Degradation and Preservation, Oxford, Butterworth and Heinemann, 2008), p.215
Parco della pace a Ravenna (Il). Esperienze di restauro del mosaico contemporaneo, Ravenna, Centro Internazionale per la Documentazione dei Mosaici, 2009 – data base with conservation reports (http://www.mosaicocidm.it)
Problemi conservativi dei manufatti dell'Ottocento. Edited by M. Fratelli ed E. Signorini. Atti Problemi di restauro - Giornate di studio, Milano 2-8-15-23-30-Maggiio 2006, Spazio Oberdan, Saonara, Il Prato, 2008, pp. 11-88
Pugliese, M., Tecnica mista. Materiali e procedimenti nell'arte del XX secolo, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2006
Standeven H., House paints 1900-1960, history and use, Los Angeles, The Getty Conservation Institute, 2011
Verteramo R., The age of plastic, beni artistici e industriali, I Talenti, Saonara (PD), Il Prato, 2013
Web Sites
https://issuu.com/cesmar7/docs/imp_analisi
https://fondazioneplart.it/ricerca/
 Di Pasqua, G., Scardapane, S., Terzini, A., Vico, V., Vito, C., Intervista a Studio Forma Fantasma sulle collezioni Autarchy 2010 e Botanica 2011 - Immagini di accompagnamento
 Martuscelli, E., The chemistry of degradation and conservation of plastic artefacts, Palazzo Spinelli, Edizioni Paideia, Firenze 2010
 Martuscelli, E., Plastics artefacts as part of the cultural heritage: conservation issues related to the molecular structure, processing and composition, II Conference 'Diagnosisi for the Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage, 15-16 Dicember 2011
 Martuscelli, E., Degradation and preservation of artefacts in synthetic plastics, Palazzo Spinelli, Edizioni Paideia, Firenze, 2012

http://www.getty.edu/conservation/our_projects/science/modcon/

ISCR Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro_ Pubblicazioni
http://www.icr.beniculturali.it/pagina.cfm?usz=2&uid=249&umn=76&smn=141
Interesting bibliography researchable online on the ISCR website

https://www.nga.gov/conservation/publications.html

https://www.tate.org.uk/research/reshaping-the-collectible/research-approach-conservation

Industrial materials have gradually replaced traditional materials in the production of works of art. In order to facilitate recognition of the work of art, direct contact with the artist is essential to indicate its design and execution. Knowledge of the technology of the materials used is the first step towards understanding their real composition, studying their degradation and developing appropriate treatments. For this reason, in conservation, the study of new binders and atypical supports, including plastics, is in continuous evolution, trying to recover data from the literature of technology manuals, analysing the materials in use and seeking solutions that can be reconciled with the principles expressed by Cesare Brandi's Theory of Restoration. The topics dealt with in the theoretical lessons will be directed towards what has been illustrated above, starting from the cataloguing of contemporary works with their material characterisation. The course will focus on painting materials: acrylic paints, oil in tubes, enamels (oleoresinous, alkyd and nitrocellulose), tempera. In addition, atypical supports, wood and cellulose derivatives, plastics, industrial preparations of supports will be treated, characterising them by technology, i.e. composition and manufacture, physical-chemical degradation and showing case studies as examples of restoration work carried out. The course includes an introduction to the methodological approach to contemporary art restoration, referring to the difficulties of treating many pictorial films, sensitive to the action of organic solvents or to the unstoppable deterioration of some atypical or plastic supports. Many case studies (Burri, Scialoja, Lombardo, Zivieri, Mirò, Stella, Consagra, Accardi,) will be used as examples to illustrate the resolution of complex problems of conservation of industrial materials and also routine works. Some research projects in the sector will also be illustrated, such as the application of laser cleaning of synthetic polymers, the selection of low molecular weight paints combined with varnish colours. A synoptic table with summary data on industrial paints and their solubility and heat treatment characteristics will be analysed in relation to the reasoned choice of restoration products to be combined for cleaning, consolidation, varnishing and retouching. The new rigid supports, solvent emulsions and aqueous cleanings will be analysed. The results of Dry Cleaning research, i.e. materials that can be used for mechanical dry cleaning, will be examined.

Chiantore O., Rava A., Conservare l’arte contemporanea problemi, metodi, materiali, e ricerche. Ed. Electa, 2005
Crook J., Learner T. The impact of modern paints. The Getty Conservation Institute.
Iazurlo P., Valentini F., Conservazione dell’arte contemporanea temi e problemi. Un’esperienza didattica, ed Il Prato, 2010
Mundici M.C., Rava A. a cura di Cosa cambia, teorie e pratiche del restauro nell’arte contemporanea, Skira 2012
Standeven H., House paints 1900-1960, history and use, The Getty Conservation Instute, 2011
AA.VV. Arte contemporanea, conservazione e restauro, contributi al colloquio sul restauro dell’arte moderna e contemporanea. Nardini editore

The year’s course program will combine activities in the conservation lab and/or on site, using reproductions or models to a limited degree. We will focus primarily on the conservation and restoration of recent works of art created using poly materials and/or synthetic materials, characteristics which are often found in works dating from the period post Second Word War to the present day.
One of the course priorities is to come face to face with and to understand the complexity of the problems posed by the conservation of these types of artworks. The conservation of contemporary art, often created using unstudied materials and non–standardized techniques, requires new and innovative approaches, which may differ greatly from the established conservation methods in use for works of art dating prior to the XIX century.
Our lab activities will be supplemented with lectures regarding the evolution of techniques, methods and materials relating to both works of art and to their conservation.

BIBLIOGRAFIA di riferimento
AA.VV., Arte contemporanea, conservazione e restauro, contributi al colloquio sul restauro dell’arte moderna e contemporanea, Firenze, Nardini, 1994
Arte contemporanea. Le ricerche internazionali dalla fine degli anni '50 ad oggi. A cura di F. Poli, Milano, Electa, 2009 (prima ed. 2003)
Banik G., Cremonesi P., de LA Chapelle A., Montalbano L., Nuove metodologie nel restauro del materiale cartaceo, I Talenti, Saonara (PD), Il Prato, 2003
Bordini S., Arte contemporanea e tecniche. Materiali, procedimenti, sperimentazioni, Roma, Carocci, 2007
Chiantore O., Rava A., Conservare l’arte contemporanea problemi, metodi, materiali, e ricerche, Milano, Ed. Electa, 2005
Crook J., Learner T., The Impact of Modern Paints, Los Angeles, The Getty Conservation Institute, 2000
M. Daudin-Schotte,H. Van Keulen,K. J. Van den Berg, Analisi e applicazione di materiali per la pulitura a secco di superfici dipinte non verniciate, Ediz. Bilingue, Quaderni del Cesmar7, Saonara (PD), Il Prato, 2014
Kermes, La rivista del Restauro, Restaurare l'Arte contemporanea? Fascicolo monografico, Anno XXVIII, Numero 98, Torino, Lexis, Aprile-Giugno 2015
Giordano R. C., Il restauro della carta, Teoria e Tecnica, Palermo, L’Epos, 2000
Iazurlo P., Valentini F., Conservazione dell’arte contemporanea temi e problemi. Un’esperienza didattica, Saonara (PD), Il Prato, 2010
I Materiali cartacei, Le antologie di ‘OPD restauro’, a cura di C. Frosinini, Firenze, Centro Di, 2006
Modern Paints Uncovered: Proceedings from the Modern Paints Uncovered Symposium, May 16–19, London, Tate Modern, 2006
Mundici M.C., Rava A., a cura di, Cosa cambia, teorie e pratiche del restauro nell’arte contemporanea, Milano, Skira, 2012
Sánchez Pons M., Fuster López L., Shank W., Conservation Issues in Modern and Contemporary Murals, Cambridge, Scholars Publishing, 2015
Shashoua, Y., Conservation of Plastics: Materials Science, Degradation and Preservation, Oxford, Butterworth and Heinemann, 2008), p.215
Parco della pace a Ravenna (Il). Esperienze di restauro del mosaico contemporaneo, Ravenna, Centro Internazionale per la Documentazione dei Mosaici, 2009 - banca dati con schede di restauro (http://www.mosaicocidm.it)
Problemi conservativi dei manufatti dell'Ottocento. A cura di M. Fratelli ed E. Signorini. Atti Problemi di restauro - Giornate di studio, Milano 2-8-15-23-30-Maggiio 2006, Spazio Oberdan, Saonara, Il Prato, 2008, pp. 11-88
Pugliese, M., Tecnica mista. Materiali e procedimenti nell'arte del XX secolo, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2006
Standeven H., House paints 1900-1960, history and use, Los Angeles, The Getty Conservation Institute, 2011
Verteramo R., The age of plastic, beni artistici e industriali, I Talenti, Saonara (PD), Il Prato, 2013
Siti Web
https://issuu.com/cesmar7/docs/imp_analisi
https://fondazioneplart.it/ricerca/
http://fondazioneplart.it/restauro/biblioteca.aspx:The%20Getty%20Conservation%20Institute_%20Modern%20and%20Contemporary%20Art%20Research%20Initiative
 Di Pasqua, G., Scardapane, S., Terzini, A., Vico, V., Vito, C., Intervista a Studio Forma Fantasma sulle collezioni Autarchy 2010 e Botanica 2011 - Immagini di accompagnamento
 Martuscelli, E., The chemistry of degradation and conservation of plastic artefacts, Palazzo Spinelli, Edizioni Paideia, Firenze 2010
 Martuscelli, E., Plastics artefacts as part of the cultural heritage: conservation issues related to the molecular structure, processing and composition, II Conference 'Diagnosisi for the Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage, 15-16 Dicember 2011
 Martuscelli, E., Degradation and preservation of artefacts in synthetic plastics, Palazzo Spinelli, Edizioni Paideia, Firenze, 2012

http://www.getty.edu/conservation/our_projects/science/modcon/

ISCR Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro_ Pubblicazioni
http://www.icr.beniculturali.it/pagina.cfm?usz=2&uid=249&umn=76&smn=141
Interessante indicazione bibliografica consultabile sul sito dell'ISCR

https://www.nga.gov/conservation/publications.html

https://www.tate.org.uk/research/reshaping-the-collectible/research-approach-conservation