Rome, January 2015 – In Asia, hanji has long been used in book and paper conservation, whereas its use among European conservators is still scarcely documented. The present research aims to contribute to a better understanding of this material, its mechanical properties, durability, and potential applications in the conservation of paper-based objects.
Within Group 130, composed of ten mid-career professional paper, book, and photographic conservators and recipients of the Hanji Award, my colleagues and I are investigating the specific characteristics of hanji paper and evaluating its applicability in the conservation of a wide range of historical and artistic objects, including books, works of graphic art, and photographs. The mechanical response of hanji paper to stress, as well as its resistance to wear and tear, is being assessed through its use in combination with different materials, such as baryta photographic supports, vellum, and tanned leather book structures.
To date, presentations of this research have been given at the ICON Conference Adapt & Evolve in London (April 2015), at the Vatican Museums in Rome (May 2015), in Milan (June 2015), and in Turin (December 2015).
The results of the application of hanji in photographic conservation will be presented at the ICOM-CC Photographic Materials Working Group Interim Meeting, to be held at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, in September 2016.
