Berlin, July 2017 — Last week I was in Berlin again. After almost three years, I returned to attend a workshop on the conservation of byōbu Japanese folding screens at the Museum für Asiatische Kunst in Dahlem.
Once again, I had the opportunity to meet my teachers from Japan as well as colleagues from all over the world. During the week, I learned about complex objects such as byōbu and the traditional techniques used to construct and restore them. It was, once more, a wonderful and valuable experience for both my professional and personal growth.
This five-day workshop on the conservation of byōbu is intended for conservators and restorers who already have an advanced knowledge of Japanese conservation and restoration techniques. Applicants are required to have previously attended either the course “Basics of Japanese Paper and Silk Conservation” or similar workshops organized by the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, such as the JPC program.
Participants learn the fundamental techniques of Japanese paper conservation, the structure of Japanese screens such as byōbu (folding screens), and methods for analyzing damage to these objects through hands-on practical work conducted under the guidance of Japanese specialists.
In the photographs: moments from the workshops; life in Berlin.