Although media art is a relatively new form of art genre, its preservation represents an enormous challenge. These art works are based on sensitive materials and technology which are subject to rapid and continuous change. Just as quickly as the storage media become obsolete, the playback and presentation techniques lose their functionality. Methods and action plans have to be developed to enable a long-term conservation and professional restoration which take into account these special points.

The imai foundation has many years of qualified experience in the conservation and restoration of video tapes and media art installations. Due its own extensive media collection imai exchanges scientific information with experts and international institutions in this domain. When the foundation was established already 1300 audio-visual works had been protected against decay and made available to the public via the online catalogue. imai has organised a series of Case Studies in cooperation with art historians, restorers and video technicians to examine exemplary procedures for the efficient preservation of media art installations.

In its function as a foundation for media art, one of the core activities of imai is to draw up sustainable preservation strategies in the field of new media and to communicate this special knowledge with consultation offers, workshops, conferences and publications to curators, restorers, artists and researchers.

Events 2010

19.08.2010 – opening in Dortmund U – new presentation of the video installation Exchange Fields from Bill Seaman (Museum Ostwall, Dortmund), which was restored under the management imai. Research project >>

24.08.2010 – conference "Still accessible? Rethinking the preservation of media art " organisird by imai in connection with the ISEA2010 RUHR in Dortmund.

15.12.2010 – Workshop at imai: Collect, exhibit, preserve video art – with the restorers Joanna Philipps, Guggenheim Museum New York and Agathe Jarczyk, studio for video conservation Bern.

Pictured above
Douglas Davis, Works (excerpted), 1970-1987
Video stills before and after restoration
© imai, Düsseldorf

 

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