Arataserse : a historical decorum for a historic opera
Artaserse : a realisation of the Royal Conservatory and the Royal Academy for Fine Arts, Friends of the Conservatory Antwerp, the University of Ghent, the VUB, the heritage group Kortrijk and the theatre of Kortrijk. The cooperation between the partners was set up to achieve a multidisciplinary approach of the different arts involved. Simultaneously, a study for the preventive conservation of the decorum was carried out.
Research questions.
Theater heritage is rarely preserved, amongst many reasons the very large scale of objects. The painting techniques that were used at the time is not to be compared with any of the traditional oil painting techniques, nor are the commonly known conservation techniques appropriate for this kind of heritage objects.
The research had to be conducted on the unique remnants themselves to establish a scientific based conservation and restoration approach, leading to the final result.
Impact.
Blanckaert, Griet, “De glansproblematiek bij de vroeg 20ste eeuwse theaterdecors door Albert Dubosq voor de Kortrijkse stadsschouwburg”, in “Glans in de conservatie-restauratie (2014). Postprints BRK-APROA, p.59-67. A large number of references on papers, interviews, footage, etc. are below as URL's.
The conservation project was the corner stone for a conference, held on Januari 22nd-23rd 2013, with the main objective to better understand the importance of historical practises in the theatre. This conference aimed at professionals from the heritage field as well as members from the performing arts. Over 60 participants were present, representing 11 countries.
The opera Artaserse was performed with the historic decorum on January 16-17th 2013 in the White room of the Singel in Antwerp and on Tuesday January 22nd in the theatre of Kortrijk.