ISCMP Projects
The working group titled ‘ISCMP Working Group on Wall Painting Conservation Principles’ will work on updates, revisions and additions to the ICOMOS PRINCIPLES FOR THE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION/RESTORATION OF WALL PAINTINGS, which were initially ratified by ICOMOS in 2003. These principles will be refreshed to align with evolving theory and practice in the preservation of mural paintings, and will emphasize the need to approach conservation with a thorough, methodological process. Our review will focus on the Principles’ relevance and ethical foundation, and aims to reflect voices and practice of wall painting conservation globally. With changing approaches and technologies over the past 20 years, it’s crucial to revisit these principles to ensure that they reflect current standards.
Clear terminology is crucial for understanding documentation, reports, and contributions in mural painting conservation. Despite some local and regional efforts, no universally accepted glossary exists. Up to the present day, there has been no official mural painting conservation glossary that is universally accepted by ICOMOS or any other international organization. There have been some local and regional attempts, but there is no accepted corpus that wall painting conservators can refer to.
Professionals need to have a common language to make clear what we are talking about. This glossary is not only for experts (conservators, architects, monument care professionals) but also for interested laypeople (journalists, etc.).
The ISCMP Glossary Working Group aims to fill this gap by creating a comprehensive glossary using a wiki platform, inviting the international community to contribute. Once it is ready, participants can submit images of deterioration patterns and painting techniques to build a visual database. After five years, the wiki will be opened for final review before being presented to ICOMOS as the official glossary.
The project aims to undertake a study on the conservation of Street Art in Nigeria and Ghana. The goal is to showcase Mural Art in Africa to draw global attention to it and make a case for its conservation.
We propose to create a photographic and digital record of the Street Art scene in the most representative cities; assess them in their iconography and connection to the places they are located in; interview local artists creating a record of the materials and techniques currently in use; undertake condition assessment of a representative case study with active degradation phenomena using international ISCMP Glossary; undertake preliminary diagnostic campaign (non-invasive, invasive) for material characterization (support-paint layer/s); outline a treatment testing methodology; undertake the conservation treatment and define a programmed conservation and maintenance plan.
Interdisciplinary team members involved: specialized wall painting conservator, architects, artists, and University access for laboratory analysis (Centre for Energy Research and Development, CERD, Nigeria).
The working group will compile a computerized bibliographic file of books, articles and catalogues in all languages, on aspects of art, history and conservation of mural painting. The goal of the work is to create a professional database for anyone involved in the conservation and restoration of mural painting of all types. The working group will have at least five members from different countries. The file will be catalogued in academic format using university library software. The team’s main goal is to locate titles in terms of conservation and restoration of murals in all languages. All members of the ISCMP will be asked to assist in submitting titles of books and articles in their possession. In addition, team members will locate titles found in libraries around the world. The file will be searched using keywords. The bibliographic file will be available to all the ISCMP members. The file will be open for adding new titles in the future.
Propose a Project
The projects proposed to ISCMP must align with the stated Aims and Activities of the Committee found in the By-Laws, which are as follows:
Aims:
- Promote international and interdisciplinary co-operation in mural painting conservation;
- Gather, study and disseminate knowledge and information in mural painting conservation;
- Promote cooperative work with the other scientific committees of ICOMOS;
- Promote the consideration of community values and significance of mural painting in their conservation
Activities:
- Research approaches for the protection and conservation of mural painting;
- Stimulate interest in mural painting, its value(s), its conservation, and the related fields;
- Advocate for at-risk mural painting
- Gather and share diverse professional experience and expertise;
- Develop mural painting conservation guidance in cooperation with other ICOMOS Scientific and National Committees, taking cultural diversity and sensitivities into account;
- Assist new Associate Members and Emerging Professionals in developing their specialization and competence in mural painting conservation.
Each proposed project needs to complete the following form and email it to muralpainting@icomos.org for consideration.
ISCMP Project Proposal Form (English)
