2. Care of Plastics In Art & Design collections derek.pullen@tate.org.uk 07974985849 derek.pullen@tate.org.uk

3. Scope Artists’ plastics Care principles - a stable environment Identification – prioritise problem plastics Signs and Causes of Deterioration Preparation, handling, storage and display Labelling Cleaning Other options

4. – Artists’Plastics Paints Acrylics, PVA – poly vinyl acetate

5. – Artists’Plastics Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate GRP – Glass Reinforced Plastic Philip King Tra-La-La 1963 2743 x 762 x 762 mm

6. – Artists’Plastics Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate GRP – glass reinforced plastic Polyester resin Arman Venus of the shaving brushes c.1968

7. – Artists’Plastics Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate GRP – glass reinforced plastic Polyester resin Silicone resins Ron Mueck Ghost 1998 Fibreglass, silicone, polyurethane foam, acrylic fibre and fabric 2019 x 648 x 991 mm

8. – –Naum Gabo Linear construction in space no2 1970 h.1150mm Artists’Plastics Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate GRP – glass reinforced plastic Polyester resin Silicone resins PMMA - Acrylic

9. – Artists’Plastics Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate GRP – glass reinforced plastic Polyester resin Silicone resins PMMA - Acrylic Mixed media, found objects & readymades

10. Bruce LaceyBruce Lacey The Womaniser 1966 Mixed media 1500 x 1650 x 730 mm

11. – Artists’Plastics Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate GRP – glass reinforced plastic Polyester resin Silicone resins PMMA - Acrylic Mixed media, found objects & readymades Cellulosics –cellulose nitrate and acetate Naum Gabo, Column 1920 h.144mm

13. – Artists’Plastics Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate GRP – glass reinforced plastic Polyester resin Silicone resins PMMA - Acrylic Mixed media, found objects & readymades Cellulosics –cellulose nitrate and acetate Photographic, new media, videos, tapes and disks Scrap heap services

14. Artists’Plastics Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate GRP – glass reinforced plastic Polyester resin Silicone resins PMMA - Acrylic Mixed media, found objects & readymades Cellulosics –cellulose nitrate and acetate Photographic, new media, videos, tapes and disks Polymer clay Thomas Schutte from United Enemies 1993 h.350mm

15. Carol Blackburn Polymer clay bowls 2007 each 45 x 75mm diam

16. Care principles Prevention Damage is irreversible. Create a dark, cool, clean, dry and stable environment

17. Care principles Prevention Damage is irreversible, create a stable environment Purpose – what are we trying to achieve? Mission policy, display, reference, hands on, accommodate artist’s intent?

18. Care principles Prevention Damage is irreversible, create a stable environment Purpose – what are we trying to achieve? Mission policy, display, reference, hands on, accommodate artist’s intent? Continuity - establish good practice Maximise access, minimise handling

19. Care principles Prevention – damage is irreversible Purpose – what are we trying to achieve? Mission policy, display, reference, hands on, accommodate artist’s intent? Continuity - establish good practice Maximise access, minimise handling Identify, document, record and monitor Survey, Photography, avoid hot lights. Annual check of ‘at risk’ works

20. Care principles Prevention – damage is irreversible Purpose – what are we trying to achieve? Mission policy, display, reference, hands on, accommodate artist’s intent? Continuity - establish good practice Maximise access, minimise handling Identify, document, record and monitor Survey, Photography, avoid hot lights. Annual check of ‘at risk’ works Any plan is better than none

21. Prioritise the problem plastics Identify: –Cellulose acetate –Cellulose nitrate (celluloid) –Plasticised PVC –Polyurethane polyester foams Isolate Ventilate Monitor

22. Signs of Deterioration Odour – acidic, camphor (CN) Change: colour -yellowing, bleaching shape –distortion, sagging, sweating – oily spots bloom – white powder cracks, splits (CAc) and crazing(CN) Corrosion of metal parts Discolouration of packing materials Increased brittleness, crumbling of foam Onset is unpredictable and rapid Occurs at stress points and handled areas Unstable environments cause stress

23. Gabo Construction in Space (Crystal)1937: Details of condition in 2007

24. Causes of deterioration Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress

25. Causes of deterioration Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants

26. Causes of deterioration Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants Mechanical damage – handling, transport & housekeeping. Wear gloves

27. Causes of deterioration Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants Mechanical damage – handling, transport & housekeeping. Wear gloves Cleaning and misconceived repairs

28. Light damage Cumulative and irreversible Affects both the plastic and pigments Control light in storage and on display UV component in light is most damaging Use UV filters on windows and lights

29. Storage Stable conditions at all times Clean & dry Cool & dark Minimise handling labels

30. Storage Use: ‘archival’ quality material –Avoid contact with wood, metals, dust and other ‘objects’ –Acid free paper –Silicone release paper –Polyester wadding –Polypropylene containers –Plastazote (closed cell polyethylene foams)

32. Storage – Problem Plastics Isolate and separate ‘at risk’ from ‘deteriorating’ objects Use: –Acid free paper –Silicone release paper –Polyester wadding –Ventilated polypropylene containers Scavengers for acidic gases –Charcoal cloth and zeolites –Artsorb board

33. Gabo –cellulose acetate storage with plastazote & charcoal cloth in ventilated polypropylene bin

34. Storage – Problem Plastics Check vulnerable ‘at risk’ items at least once a year, preferably more often. Use smell and dampened indicator strip to confirm acidic off- gassing.

35. Construction in Space ‘Two Cones’ (c.1968) Photo taken 1978

36. Construction in Space ‘Two Cones’ (c.1968)

37. Display –Problem Plastics Low light - less than 100 lux Ventilated plinth covers Allow at least 72 hours for plinth paint to dry before covering

38. Labelling Avoid solvent based inks, paints and isolating layers. Avoid adhesive tapes Avoid rubber bands Use tie on labels with cotton tape Use soft pencil (inside objects)

39. Cleaning To remove dust and contaminants Cleaning causes damage – both mechanical and chemical Decide on a balance between appearance and risk of damage Avoid solvents, eg alcohols, acetone, cellulose thinners, cleaning fluids Use soft dry lint free cloths, eg microfibre For stubborn marks only, use water to dampen cloth and dry immediately

40. Other plastic formats Fabrics – costumes and accessories - provide supports, isolate PVC’s Photograhic – archival quality storage materials New media: videos, tapes, disks – a management policy is essential for maintenance and migration.

41. UK conservation supplies Conservation by Design www.conservation-by- design.co.uk Preservation equipment www.preservationequipment.com To find a conservator- www.conservationregister.comwww.conservationregister.com Book- ‘Plastics, collecting and conserving’ Quye & Williamson Article -Scott Williams – Care of Plastics; Malignant Plastics – 8 pages –google it or… http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/waac/wn/wn24/wn24-1/wn24-102.html

42. Care Summary Know what you’ve got – survey & record

43. Care Summary Know what you’ve got – survey & record Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions

44. Care Summary Know what you’ve got – survey & record Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions Avoid light

45. Care Summary Know what you’ve got – survey & record Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions Avoid light Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s,

46. Care Summary Know what you’ve got – survey & record Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions Avoid light Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s, Monitor

47. Care Summary Know what you’ve got – survey & record Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions Avoid light Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s, Monitor Keep on collecting and researching

48. Jim Lambie Tate Britain 2001

49. 3D Documentation of Plastic Sculptures by Naum Gabo in Tate’s Collection A Project Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

50. Tate version Gabo Construction on a Line (1937-8) Undated photo c.1940’s

53. OriginalReplica

54. OriginalReplica

55. OriginalReplica

56. Construction on a line (c. 1935 – 7 ) Naum Gabo.

58. Richard Artschwager Table and Chair 1963-4 Melamine laminate and wood object: 755 x 1320 x 952 mm object: 1143 x 438 x 533 mm

59. Spiral Theme (c. 1941) Construction in Space ‘Crystal’ (c. 1937) The two sculptures chosen for our pilot study

60. Spiral Theme 1941: Photo taken in 2007

61. Laser scanning ‘Construction in Space “Crystal”

62. ‘ Construction in Space “Crystal” (Model coloured to show different component parts) Data from Plowman Craven

63. Photogrammetry Lines drawn from different camera position to targets on the object A1 A2 A3 Taking measurements in 3D space from photogrammetric images

64. Use of the touch probe

65. Construction in Space “Crystal”: Showing warping of form