Contemporary Conservation Theory for Sustainable Development of Contemporary Art

Contemporary art is often made of more short-lived material than traditional works of art; also the material is usually used in a non-traditional way. Western conservation theories aim to preserve object´s authenticity, which, according to the Western view is the object´s aesthetic and historic nature as found within the object and which can be reviled through scientific and technological methods. But an object does not become a cultural heritage (or a conservation object) because of it´s material components; instead it becomes a heritage or a conservation objects because of its social meaning; and that meaning is decided by it´s stakeholders. As an option to Western conservation theories contemporary conservation theory emerged in the late 20th century. Contemporary conservation theory shifts focus from the object´s to the stakeholders. This is because objects have no rights, but stakeholders do and it is for them conservation is done. The thesis argues that sustainable development of cultural heritage involve social sustainable development, rather than preservation of an object´s material. Therefore contemporary conservation theory is proposed for sustainable development of contemporary art.Examensarbete för avläggande av filosofie masterexamen i kulturvård, 60 hp Instituionen för kulturvård Göteborgs universitet. 2015: