THE FIRST CRACK: Conservation and Value in Contemporary Art, April 29, 2015
SVA Theatre, New York

In recent years, a dynamic experimental production of art, an expanding fast-paced global art market, and a growing culture of collecting have put extreme demands on the physical condition and integrity of works of contemporary art. 

Distinct from the well-discussed conservation practice in museums, this symposium explores which codes of ethics and forces in the art market rule the decisions on conservation. It brings together artists, collectors, art historians and dealers, art insurers, lawyers and adjusters, auction houses, artists estates and conservators, to discuss what is acceptable beyond perfection in the changing condition of artworks, and who is behind the decisions in refabrication, devaluation, and total loss.

The symposium further raises important questions about the collaboration between artist and conservator, limitations in conservation, and the role of the artist in conservation. 

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