Preventive conservation of monuments

Transcription

1 MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORT GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF ANTIQUITIES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE DIRECTORATE OF MUSEUMS/ DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATION Preventive conservation of monuments Preventive conservation: a shield that protects monuments Predict, Prevent, Protect... monuments from the ravages of time! 1

2 Monuments at risk! That s a title we read in newspapers and on the internet, a phrase we frequently hear. But what does this phrase mean? To begin with: what is a monument? In the past the term monument was used to refer to sculptures and architectural compositions, which man created in order to honour and preserve the memory of a person or a historical event. Nowadays we consider that any product of human endeavour, which endures as a testament of an age and not solely sculpture or architecture, but also painting, music, narrative etc. is a monument The Monument to the Tobacco Producers by sculptor Thymios Panourgias was erected in Kypseli, Agrinio, in memory of their bloody uprising against the government in

3 Monuments are passed on from generation to generation, transferring with them particular values: archaeological, artistic, technological, economic, and others. They are vested with special significance by each generation, as they become part of the life and common points of reference for the people who live alongside them, irrespective of gender, age and derivation. 3

4 What dangers threaten the sculptures and architectural monuments? Weather conditions (including humidity and frost, salts and microorganisms) pose frequent threats to the materials of which monuments are made. So do major natural disasters, such as earthquakes and fires. The greatest dangers, however, come from The Fountains at Menites on the island of Andros. human activities: Air pollution due to increased use of fossil fuels dissolves and destroys urban monuments. 4

5 Additionally increases in ambient temperatures due to the greenhouse effect and the hole in the ozone layer are expected to accellerate the rate at which chemical reactions and microbiological processes take place to the detriment of the materials of which monuments are made. Monuments along the coast are under direct threat from elevated sea levels. Finally, during wars and conflicts, monuments can be irreparably harmed by bombing, looting, arson, Rising water levels in Venice. vandalism etc. Traces of bullets on Hadrian s Arch in Athens. 5

6 How do we keep monuments going? By conservation! Conservation is a professional field that includes all the work undertaken in order to slow down the destruction of monuments; to take care of them and to preserve them in a condition similar to what they were originally like, for as long as possible. This work includes examining the monuments; recording any issues; and a variety of interventions to clean, re-affix, stabilise the Conservation of mosaics in Daphni Monastery materials of the monuments. Monument conservation can by systematic or preventive and is undertaken by conservators of antiquities. 6

7 What is the systematic conservation of monuments? Systematic conservation of monuments is undertaken by conservators of antiquities and works of art and includes all the interventions undertaken in order to treat the ruined materials from which these are made. Such interventions include cleaning, joining, stabilising, filling in with new materials etc. Joining fragments of a wall painting from Tiryns. Completing monuments, such as the Tholos at Epidaurus, which is done using tested new materials and methods. 7

8 What is preventive conservation of monuments? With preventive conservation, conservators locate and intervene in environmental risks that threaten monuments in order to avoid damage to their materials. Cutting weeds, repelling birds, cleaning the surrounding area, stopping vehicular traffic in the area are all actions that fall withing the purview of preventive conservation. 8

9 Why is preventive conservation so important? The work of preventive conservation must be done regularly and with care: to locate the risks that threaten monuments; to prevent greater destruction and the need for systematic conservation of materials; to lengthen the life-span of systematic conservation interventions that have already taken place (e.g. cleaning, reattaching etc.); they cost less; they encourage communication with and participation of the public in the issue of maintaining monuments of our cultural heritage. 9

10 What can we do? Each and every one of us should become actively involved in preventive maintenance activities on the monuments of our country, our town, or, even better, our neighbourhood, as these monuments are our cultural heritage. The Lambraki monument in Thessaloniki. 10

11 How do we do that? πρασινέσ πολιτιστικέσ ΔιΑΔροΜέσ ιουνιοσ 12 νέο ΑρχΑιολογικο Μουσέιο Μυτιλήνήσ Μουσέιο Φυσικήσ ιστοριασ ΑπολιθωΜένου ΔΑσουσ λέσβου ΑρχΑιολογικοσ χωροσ ΑρχΑιΑσ έλέυθέρνασ τέμένοσ καρα ΜουσΑ πασα, παλια πολή ρέθυμνου Αργυρουπολή ρέθυμνου ΑΜΑρι ρέθυμνου ΑρχΑιολογικο Μουσέιο βραυρωνασ υγροτοποσ βραυρωνασ πυλή του ΑΔριΑνου ΑρχΑιολογικοσ χωροσ ολυμπιέιου Μονή καισαριανήσ ΑρχΑιολογικοσ χωροσ κέραμέικου βυζαντινοι ναοι καλυβιων Αττικήσ σουριζα, έθνικοσ ΔρυΜοσ σουνιου We learn how to behave correctly around monuments; we organise groups and collaborate with the competent authority for the conservation of the monument (Ephorate of Antiquities, Local Government, private individuals); we take part in public consciousness raising; we help keep the area tidy etc. ΥποΥργείο πολίτίσμου καί τουρίσμου γενίκη ΔίεΥΘΥΝσΗ αρχαίοτητων καί πολίτίστίκησ κληρονομίασ ΔίεΥΘΥΝσΗ μουσείων, εκθεσεων καί εκπαίδευτίκων προγραμματων (Δμεεπ)

12 Athens, 2015 Project coordinator Maria Lagogianni, Ph.D. (Archaeology) Souzana Choulia Kapeloni, Archaeologist General editing Tonia Koutsouraki, archaeologist Alexandra Seleli, archaeologist/museologist Graphic Design Editor Spilios Pistas, graphic artist Texts Sofia Papida, Conservator of Antiquities and Works of Art - Museologist Translation into English Katerina Apostolaki, Translator - Interpreter Digital and Graphic Design Pashalia Tsagarian, graphic designer Charalampidi Irene, graphic designer Illustrator Elias Karras, painter 2015 Ministry of Culture and Sport ISBN The leaflet Systematic conservation of the theme Preventive conservation: a shield for protecting monuments was created and digitised in 2015, within the framework of Action code no. MIS Updating and digitizing educational material to support the educational process, which is implemented by the Directorate of Museums as part of the Operational Programme Education and Lifelong Learning and jointly funded by the European Union (European Social Fund) and by national funds.