Current technical challenges in the conservation of paintings

As artists have increasingly utilised materials and techniques, conservators have been presented with a host of new and complex problems that need to be addressed. In response to this, the Institute of Conservation's Paintings Group decided that this would be an appropriate theme for a conference that could provide a platform for contributors to disseminate their research on a number of topics relating to the conservation of contemporary artworks. In addition, a call was put out for contributors who might be developing new and innovative techniques and materials to address conservation problems, or who might be utilising well-known materials, already in the conservator's toolkit, in a new capacity. The papers in this volume were presented at the Paintings Group's conference 'Modern Conservation; What's New?' held at The Wallace Collection in October 2014, which covered a variety of topics including consolidates and flake laying,; the possible use of of sports injury tape as a temporary means of support during structural conservation treatments; rigid inserts to stretchers to reduce vibrations; auxiliary supports for modern paintings; the problem of softening and weeping paints in modern works of art and methods of treatment; wet surface cleaning treatments for contemporary paintings; and ethical considerations when dealing with conceptual artists' wishes