Preventive vs Interventive ConservationIn the Hwa Chong Institution Heritage Center
Benjamin Ang (3P3 01)Pang Shi Quan (3P3 16)
Isaac Lim (3H1 15)Ho Say Kiat (3P2 06)
Overview•Rationale•Hypotheses•Thesis Statement•Research Questions•Introduction to Conservation
▫Literature Reviews▫Preventive VS Interventive
•Methodology▫Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects
Rationale
Rich History Heritage Center
And that is why….•We Want to Improve it•Through Conservation of the collection of
Artifacts•By Restoring some of them
Thesis StatementA Study on the appropriate methods to
conservethe artifacts in the Hwa Chong Heritage
Centerand to stop them from deteriorating through preventive and interventive
conservation
Hypotheses1. An ideal environment for the
conservation of artifacts will have low humidity, low light intensity, and is relatively cool
2. Preventive Methods of Conservation are more time/cost-efficient than Interventive ones?
Research Questions1. What is the current level of
humidity/temperature pattern/light intensity in the Heritage Center?
2. How have the artifacts been affected?3. What methods can be applied to
conserve these artifacts?4. What are the pros and cons of the
Preventive and Interventive methods?
Literature Review – Why Conserve Artifacts? (not complete)•Conservation ensures that Artifacts do not
deteriorate, or slow down said process•Better for the Owner
▫Reduced need to worry about replacing an original artifact/piece of work
•Better for the Audience▫Allows audience to view artifacts in its
entirety▫Makes for a better understanding of the
monument
Preventive Conservation
• Environmental Factors▫Humidity▫Temperature▫Intensity of Light▫Pests
Interventive Conservation
Principles of ConservationInterventive Methods &
Process
Prevention Vs Cure• Artifacts that are not Rusty/Torn/etc. are much
more aesthetically pleasing , but
• Interventive Methods have their constraints▫Artifacts may not be fully restored▫Not cost-efficient▫Restored objects may be more prone to
further/more serious damage▫Expertise required to perform it safely
• Find a balance between the two
Methodology
General Survey of Collectio
n
Survey Environment
of the Heritage Center
Research on Ideal
Environment
+ How to Achieve it
Carry out interviews
(Oral History)
Work with
experts to
Restore Artifacts
Come up with a
proposal for ideal
environment
Things to Consider• To what Extent Should we Restore Damaged
Artifacts?▫Restore it to its original state? Is halfway there
enough? Fact vs Interpretation Conservator’s POV may not be the same as the
Audiences’ POV Artifacts may be damaged if methods are too extreme Are the effects of restoration permanent? Conflict between showcasing authentic or replaced
artifacts Will the restored artifacts looking too new lose its
aesthetic appeal?
Baba House Case Study•Old paintings in the Baba House: -Placed in an air-conditioned environment -Dehumidifiers that are turned on 24/7•Showcase of a preserved Luak cat -Has humidity indicators to observe the
humidity levelYellow skittles
End Product•Proposal
▫How to ensure that the Heritage Center always has the “ideal environment”
•Oral History Presentation with Teachers▫Interview in Mp3 format▫Transcript
•2-3 Restored Artifacts
Thank You
ReferencesImages• http://stopabusingsiprefixes.org/img/stop.png• http://www.skeeter-vac-depot.com/images/skeeter-vac-re
pair.png• Images taken in the Hwa Chong Institution High School
Heritage CenterInformation about Conservation • from Mr Lawrence Chin• The Care of Prints and Drawings by Margaret Holben
Ellis (Nashville: The Amerian Association for State and Local History, 1987)
• Conservation Concerns: A Guide for Collectors and Curators by Konstanze Bachmann (April 17, 1992)