PhD defence Sophie Lei

Keywords: Contemporary Art, Conservation, Creativity, Collective practice, Documentation

"Between Creation and Conservation: A Study of the Reinstallation of Contemporary Art Works"

Contemporary artworks, unlike traditional art forms, are dynamic and context-dependent, presenting challenges for museums tasked with preserving their authenticity. This thesis explores whether museum can maintain the identity of such works without fixing them, allowing for transformation and development. It reviews literature on conservation, emphasizing the creative and collective nature of contemporary art, and examines the historical and philosophical taboos around creativity in conservation. Using case studies from Italian institutions, including the Brera Academy and MAXXI Museum, the research analyses how artists, conservators, and documentation collaborate to reinstall and reinterpret works. Concepts form sociologists and anthropologists frame creativity as a collective, evolving process. The findings show that museums can sustain the continuity of contemporary works by fostering epistemic communities of practice, adapting documentation creatively, and collaborating with artists. Ultimately, the thesis argues that preservation and creative evolution are compatible when rooted in share traditions and flexible strategies. 

Click here for the full dissertation

Click here for the live stream.