Research project

Media art installations (i.e. works exhibited in spaces which exploit new media) usually do not have a permanent appearance. They are adapted with new presentation to the respective spatial surroundings and so appear differently each time they are presented. Just as with a theatre performance each staging leads to a new interpretation and an installation work is re-staged with each presentation, i.e. "re-interpreted".

The materials of these media-based art works are in most parts also inconstant due to the fact that the technology quickly becomes obsolete. Playback devices and their corresponding data media which only a few years ago were seen as absolutely innovative are quickly superseded by new generations and today are considered to be technological dinosaurs. Many old models are no longer produced and therefore cannot be re-purchased. Due to missing spare parts it is often also not possible to repair old devices. As a result, the original data media cannot be played back, unless they are transferred to a new format - an operation which is still partly considered to be controversial from the perspective of restoration ethics.

These problems mean that due to technical defects, obsolete technical equipment or insufficient competence the media art installations are often no longer exhibited or presented.

As media art works are increasingly acquired by museums and private collectors, the subject of preservation and presentation of media art installations is becoming ever more important. Art historians, curators and restorers are faced with the question of how to preserve these art works and also the question of what should be preserved. This is made more difficult because frequently there is no fixed or retraceable original condition which can be used as a reference for a re-installation or restoration. Instead there are different implementations (concretions) of the same artistic idea which are documented to different degrees.
The research project "Materialization of the Fugitive" draws on the experience gained in a series of Case Studies of the imai foundation which were carried out for the examination, restoration and re-installation of media art installations. The case studies are evaluated, and taking into account the various problems these practical examples bring to light, methodological conclusions are made regarding the preservation and presentation of media art installations. The development of theoretical guidelines should highlight the aspects which specially have to be taken into account when making decisions on the preservation and presentation of media art installations.

Dr. Tiziana Caianello presented the first results at the DOCAM conference in Montreal (3 - 5.3.2010).

Link to DOCAM video recording of the talk >>
Download Abstract.pdf >>

Research supervisor: Dr. Tiziana Caianiello
Dr. Tiziana Caianiello (born in Naples) studied the arts with a specialisation in history of art at the University "Federico II." in Naples. .She received her doctorate at the University of Cologne for the thesis "Der Lichtraum (Hommage à Fontana) und das Creamcheese im museum kunst palast: Zur Musealisierung der Düsseldorfer Kunstszene der 1960er Jahre" (Bielefeld 2005). She is currently employed as a researcher with the ZERO Foundation in Düsseldorf.

 

 

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