Modern and Contemporary Art

In this section, students will be engaged in the examination and conservation of various objects ranging from two- and three-dimensional artworks to installations and media art. They will not only deal with conceptual or performative forms of art, but also with a great variety of novel materials and artistic modes of production and technologies, which will compel participants to re-think the principles and methods of conservation ethics.

An important teaching approach is to confront students with original artworks; in this context, it is our key objective to convey the skills and knowledge necessary to examine artworks with regard to the artistic process involved, to document all the aspects of the work and finally to carry out conservation measures. Furthermore, issues of material technology, conservation strategies for modern and contemporary painting and synthetics, and the basics of conserving technical and/or electronic components are approached in both theory and practice. Students will also learn how to apply special forms of documentation, interviewing techniques and methods of analysis and evaluation. When teaching conservation with regard to contemporary art, we closely cooperate with artists, a practice well established at the Institute.

The section Conservation and Restoration of Modern and Contemporary Art was awarded its own chair in 2005 and thus became one of the few training programs of its kind at university level in Europe.

Head of study focus

Study focus supervisor

Other Teaching Staff

• Mag. Christa Haiml-Muthspiel,
• Mag. Karin Steiner
• Christoph Freidhöfer MA
• Mag. Almut Schilling
• Mag. Lea Huck