POPE: Resin Bleed
Processes of Physical Emergence of Resin Bleed: Causes, Prevention and Treatment
Various sculptures by the British-Australian artist Nicholas Pope (1949) in the collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum exhibit resin bleed. The research aims to identify the mechanisms behind resin bleeding.
About the project
As a case study the sculpture The Village, the Church or Myself (Nicholas Pope, 1986), is used. The paint on the surface of the sculpture is locally dissolved by the resin, leading to stickiness, paint loss and an overall negative appreciation of the object’s aesthetic. The work will feature as a key object in the exhibition Art & Project in the Kröller-Müller Museum (30 September 2023–25 February 2024). In POPE: Resin Bleed conservation experts from the Rijksmuseum and Kröller-Müller Museum, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, and the University of Amsterdam join forces in interdisciplinary research to better understand the conservation problem of Pope’s sculptures exhibiting resin bleed and to find an appropriate way to treat the artwork.
Aim of the project
The research should provide a significant contribution to the knowledge of the phenomenon of resin bleed and lay the groundwork for further research into treatment options for other affected works by Pope. It includes material research, such as the identification of the composition of the resin and paint layer, as well as oral history research, including an artist interview with Nicholas Pope to document his ideas in relation to his use of materials and the phenomena changing the appearance of his work. This should lead to a well-considered approach for the conservation treatment of The Village, the Church or Myself, so that sculpture can feature as a key object in the exhibition Art & Project.
Related publications
- Postprints Future Talks 2023
Related events
Research results will be disseminated during NICAS symposia and during Future Talks 2023 The interviews will be disclosed in time aligned transcripts and sustainably archived to make it available for other researchers based on the FAIR Principles. This is done to support further research and insights, enriching the Interviews for Conservation Research collection at DANS-KNAW.
Staff
Project leader:
Paul van Duin
p.van.duin@rijksmuseum.nl
Project team:
W. Kreb (independent wood and furniture conservator)
T. Mol t.mol@rijksmuseum
M. van der Sande (Kröller-Müller Museum)
S. Smulders - de Jong (Cultural Heritage Agency)
Dr. S. Stigter (University of Amsterdam)
Partners and Sponsors
- NICAS small project Grant
- Kröller-Müller Museum Otterlo
- Universiteit van Amsterdam
- Rijksdienst voor Cultureel Erfgoed