From Restorer to Conservator: Conservation Department of the Art Museum of Estonia 50
The Conservation Department of the Art Museum of Estonia will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a comprehensive and diverse exhibition that will take place in three locations: the Kadriorg Art Museum, Niguliste Museum and Adamson-Eric Museum. Carefully selected works have been exhibited or highlighted in the permanent exhibition, introducing the exciting field of conservation and the diverse work carried out over decades. The exhibition and the accompanying collection of articles are a tribute to colleagues and teachers, whose pioneering contributions have ensured the continuous activities of the Conservation Department in preserving the collections of the Art Museum of Estonia. It also invites art lovers to get acquainted with the nuances and beauty of the slightly mysterious profession of conservator.
The exhibition at the Kadriorg Art Museum is dedicated to the conservation of paintings, particularly of older ones. Through numerous examples, most of which are part of the museum’s permanent exhibition, the exhibition introduces various conservation techniques, research methods and work processes, with an emphasis on ethical issues.
The 50-year history of the department is not just a list of completed works. It is much broader than that, including people, work methods and circumstances that have shaped both time and flexibility. Every decision made, method used and solution created has been part of the process that determines the value and durability of a work of art.
Alar Nurkse, Conservator of Paintings, Art Museum of Estonia
Curators: Grete Nilp, Alar Nurkse and Mihhail Staško
Graphic design: Inga Heamägi