Inside Installations theory and Practice in the Care of Complex Artworks

Anything is possible in installation art—but that freedom comes with a cost, as the mutability of the intended experience along with the typically short lifespan of the techniques and materials used can present great difficulty to the custodian of the work. This important and practical book examines the processes involved in preserving this complex form of art, reinstalling it, and finding ways to re-create the original experience of the work. Edited by the media conservator of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the program manager at the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) in the Netherlands, this book offers a fascinating glimpse at the decisions and processes behind some of the world’s most innovative art installations.

Glenn Wharton serves as media conservator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He is also on the faculty of the Museum Studies Program at New York University and was the founding executive director of INCCA-North America. Tatja Scholte is program manager at the RCE and specializes in the theory of contemporary art conservation.