Condition and presentation problems with Balka’s works in Fundació La Caixa Notes on the intervention by the artist

* Kr ö ller-M ü ller Museum. Otterlo * TATE, London * Fundació La Caixa, Barcelona * MUMOK, Vienna * SMAK, Ghent * Academy of Fine Art, Warsaw * Miroslav Balka (photo rachive, documentation) Expertise and documentation

The works of Miroslav Balka (…) are identified by the precise manipulation of elemental forms, measurements that are in tune with human dimensions, as well as by the delicate employment of carefully selected materials. Balka allows his materials to „ articulate“ themselves insofar as he emphasizes their physical properties, by raising the reverberations of their aesthetic appeal, and also in employing them to convey meaning. The artist works exclusively with found objects in particular waste-products,i.e. objects which are loaded wih traces and as such, in themselves, contribute a narrative. Comments by an art historian/curator Museum Moderner Kunst, Vienna

Quote from an interview with Miroslav Balka about "1120 x 875 x 2”: “Can you imagine that a few curators bought 100 kg of typical Polish soap, they cut it and nobody mentioned that it didn't smell. As a matter of fact the essence, the heart of that work is its scent. It doesn't matter that it is smeared over the surface. It is about the dissemination of the scent. Nobody noticed the fact that it didn't smell suitable. If I hadn't come, have a look at it (there was no scent at all over there) they probably would have put it on the floor in that form. The meaning of the work would have been completely destroyed.”

Preservation and Re-installation of works by Miroslav Balka - The use of INCCA as a virtual knowledge and information network MATERIALS: Preservation Physical components of the installation, e.g. components of ‘tent’ Reserve collection of construction elements, e.g. nails, screws Reserve collection of ephemeral materials, e.g. pine- needles, ash Museum Storage Room Conservation Studio Conservation studio Publications, Literature Conservation reports Photographs Construction ? Documentation centre Ephemeral materials ? Information ? geen beeldmateriaal Zie dia tabel, er is een collectie schroeven in Fundacio La Caixa dia van dennenaalden op hout dia van as op de vloer opmerking: “The needles and ashes tend to disappear during the exhibition periods, due to visitors steeping on them, or the cleaning staff”. Zie dia tabel, er is een collectie dennenaalden in Fundació La Caixa dia van dennenaalden op hout dia van as op de vloer opmerking: “The needles and ashes tend to disappear during the exhibition periods, due to visitors steeping on them, or the cleaning staff”. Zie dia tabel, er is een collectie dennenaalden in Fundació La Caixa dia van Tent ‘Untitled’

NON-TANGIBLE ASPECTS: Re-installation Position, DimensionsMuseum Exhibition Space Conveyance of Meaning ? TATE, Kroller Muller Museum, Fundació La Caixa, MUMOK, SMAK, Academy of Fine Arts Warsaw Conservation Studio - Documentation Centre Installation reports Curatorial comments Video registration of an exhibition The Artist’s Studio Interview with the artist Instruction drawings by the artist Smell Chemical analysis Interview with the artist Laboratory Network of professionals Tacit knowledge INCCA network, vastgelegd in Agent record INCCA Artists Archives: record video registration of an exhibition dia curatorial comments INCCA Artists Archives: record video registration of an exhibition dia curatorial comments dia instruction drawing dia quotes from an interview dia kunstenaar met stuk zeep dia quotes from an interview dia kunstenaar met stuk zeep Formule? Geen dia dia van geinstalleerd werk met zeep