Kristel De Vis education coordinator

Research Kristel De Vis

Research team

Developing an Art Conservation Education and Research program at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2027

Abstract

The objective is to develop an Art Conservation education and research program at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia alongside the already existing Master Heritage. Two Ethiopian PhD students will be hired to build the course to Ethiopian standards. One of our main challenges is capacity building and to stress the importance of this challenge of maintaining sustainable training and involving all stakeholders in this process. During this five-year project we will build a strong and long-term relationship.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Collection Campus Mutsaard. A participatory value-based heritage assessment of 360 years Royal Academy of Antwerp. 01/07/2022 - 31/10/2024

Abstract

Almost 360 years of academic heritage at Campus Mutsaard reflects the history of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and of the young Faculty of Design Sciences of the University of Antwerp. A participatory value-based heritage assessment will be carried out, involving a wide range of stakeholders and heritage communities. The development of this participatory process will not only contribute to the design of a methodology that includes multiple perspectives in the assessment of heritage value, but will hopefully also result in a meaningful integration of the academic heritage in the future educational and infrastructural plans.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

The use of 3D technology for the restoration of complex cultural heritage objects. 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2023

Abstract

Fragile and very detailed cultural heritage objects, such as sculptured ceramics, can't be restored manually without further damage. 3D technology could be a great help in the process of repair. This includes 3D scanning, modelling, and 3D printing. A restored object, which is treated for aesthetic, commercial or museological purposes and with sustainable materials, has an overall greater value. For example, the proposed research would make it possible to produce replicas of fine and detailed sculptures for a better tactile sense experiences. There are four main aims in this research proposal: - Developing a method for restorers by creating a digital toolbox: what kind of scanning, modelling and printing techniques are available and for what type of sculpted ceramics or other artworks could they be used? - Therefore, there is also the need to get more insight the damages present in cultural heritage, starting with sculptured ceramic objects. - Defining which conditions are necessary for a good repair: Authenticity and other values are important to consider during conservation and the correspondent ethical decision has an influence on the visual result in the end. - Formulation and validation of the methodology by a collection of cases.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Dossin Kazerne Mechelen; museum support project (calamity and facilities report, conservation treatment of two painting of Irene Awret. Followed by the assessment of the Rozenberg/Hofstätter collection. 01/04/2017 - 31/01/2019

Abstract

The Dossinkazerne has a very diverse collection of artworks. Many objects are supportive to the story of the deportation, however some works of art have been created in the period of Dossin as 'Sammellager'. Fitting example are the oil paintings by Irene Awret (1921-2014). These works are direct witnesses of the operation and atmosphere within the barracks. In addition to the works of Awret, there is also a need for a calamity and facilities plan for the entire collection. Hofstätter's works are examined in more detail.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Reheating of dalle de verre glass building blocks: against any deontological code or an innovative method for 20th century glass applications? 01/04/2017 - 31/03/2018

Abstract

Since c. 1850, a diverse range of glass building blocks has been developed and integrated in buildings. Two types of glass building blocks are distinguished: (1) 'architectural glass' ; glass building blocks that have been produced in an industrial and semi-industrial way resulting in a mass product, and (2) 'dalle de verre windows' which are glass building blocks that are individually sculpted and that where used in artistic creations. The use of dalle de verre windows in buildings were very popular during the 1960s and the 1970s. Such windows are composed of the building blocks that are embedded in concrete or mortar that is reinforced by metal bars. Unfortunately, many of these windows show several types of damages such as corrosion of the reinforcement, pulverization of the mortar or cracks in the glass building blocks. The causes of fracturing are multiple and they result in a complex three dimensional network of cracks and fissures inside the glass element. In this project we want to explore the possibility to reheat broken glass building blocks as a way to bond the fragments together. This method has been rejected by the heritage community for the preservation of stained glass windows. For this, new dalle de verre blocks will be purchased, they will be broken and subjected to different firing cycles (i.e., time vs. temperature curve used during firing). The results will be compared with several reference bonding techniques that are generally accepted by the heritage community. Besides optimizing this method, it is also necessary to develop a procedure to upgrade an experimental treatment to a generally accepted conservation-restoration method. Such a formally accepted validation procedure does not exist in the domain of conservation-restoration.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project