Academic thesis
| Katharina Schirmbrand: | A jigsaw made of glass and plaster - the restoration treatment of a fractured glass bottle in a work by Franz West | Back |
| Language: | Original - Translation | |
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| Abstract: | The subject of this diploma thesis is an artwork titled ´´Labstück´´ by Austrian artist Franz West. It is part of the series of the ´´Adapives´´ that encourage the viewer to interact with the work. It is conceived as a sculpture (height: 1,80 m) leaning against the wall, and consists of a metal rod that is placed on the floor and a wine bottle attached on the top. The two main components of the work are bandaged with a gauze fabric soaked in PVAc dispersion and covered in plaster mixed with papier mache and pieces of newspaper. The work that is privately owned toppled over, resulting in a massively fractured glass bottle. A conservation and restoration concept was developed for the stabilization of the glass bottle, the assembling and bonding of the shattered glass fragments and the replacement of missing glass pieces. The restoration treatment was carried out as part of the diploma thesis. The issue of filling in and retouching missing areas in the textured plaster layer - characteristic of the artist - was beyond the scope of the diploma project and was carried out subsequently. An in-depth examination, scientific analysis and the fabrication of mock-ups provided valuable information on the construction of the object as well as the materials used and their composition. A system was developed to ensure adequate stabilization of the glass bottle for its presentation leaning against the wall as well as for handling and interaction. In addition to joining the glass fragments, the treatment method included a backing of the cracks with glass fiber fabric and a support system with a hard inner casing for the entire glass bottle. The highly absorbent and sensitive plaster surface was a key point when choosing adequate the restoration materials and application techniques. |
| Keywords: | Franz West, Labstück, glass bottle, plaster of paris, fracture, glass bonding, interactive artwork |
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