Collections Care of Art on Paper: Art preservation & Conservation
When it comes to art conservation, it is crucial to understand the features of both media and paper and media. Exposing art to conceivably harmful factors like pollutants, humidity, light, and elevated temperatures can stimulate the degradation of products on paper. Such factors can change materials in various ways— discoloring or fading a lot of media much more than others, and darkening or lightening paper—and shifting the visual perspective of the work. Furthermore, there can also be inherent faults in the primary materials that include the artwork which can make Collections Care quite tricky. For example, wood pulp fibers in the paper (a standard constituent of newsprint) or surplus chemicals from the papermaking process can make the paper degrade a lot more rapidly. The oil binder in a lot of printing inks can also absorb into the paper where it is printed and discolor it with time. Curators, conservators, and other specialists have devised the most reliable methods for storing, displaying, and handling art on paper and for overall art preservation.
Methods of storing, displaying, and handling art on paper
● Control UV radiation: Reducing natural light is crucial in art preservation when it's feasible, for example, by blocking filtering light from windows and skylights. Polyester films can also be utilized in windows to clean out ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Equipping artificial light sources that release high levels of UV, like fluorescent bulbs, including UV filters.
● Sheer levels: Sheer levels for art on paper must never surpass 10-foot candles or roughly 100 lux. For delicate media, such as Japanese woodblock prints and watercolors, light levels must not be more than 5-foot candles or approximately 50 lux. A light meter should be used to estimate the amount of light that is cast on the surface of the art.
● Barriers or motion detection sensors: Restrict the light present in the display area or cover it up using an opaque barrier when the artworks are not being observed. Lights can also be equipped with motion detector sensors to switch lights off when the display area is abandoned.
● Temperature: Temperatures, in the room where artwork is displayed and stored, must be kept strictly controlled within the range of 65°–72°F with a fluctuation of fewer than +/-5° within 24 hours. Matted works may be sealed while framing to hinder environmental fluctuations.
● Dry, cool environment: When it comes to art preservation, maintaining a relatively dry, cool, environment is of extreme importance. In general, molds need a humidity level of more than 65% to start to grow. Hence, you need to make sure that you do not store artworks in damp areas, like basements, and in case a space gets damp, you should use a dehumidifier. Make sure that display and storage spaces have proper and fluent air circulation. You should also keep a check on the regular cleaning and maintenance of all floors and surfaces with microfiber cloths and dry-mops to get rid of detritus, dust, and mold spores.
Conclusion
Practices of art on paper are particularly vulnerable to contamination from inadequate storage methods or poor handling methods that can cause deterioration, tears, or creases. Paper can also get compromised when it comes into contact with chemically unstable materials that are generally used for housing or display. Materials that contain wood pulp, which can be also found in any mat boards, are especially susceptible to degradation and heightened acidity that can damage works next to them. Implementing and establishing best practices for storage, display, and handling, are the initial steps in protecting artworks. Thankfully, historic restoration, research, and modern technologies make it feasible to control interior environments to get them suitable for works on paper. Before you move your artwork, you should check the areas properly for any evidence of insect infestation. Many sticky traps can assist in controlling insect activity. If there is an outbreak, you need to contact a pest professional immediately to assess the environment.
