Conservation of Contemporary Artworks Made with Soap and Research on the Appropriate Hygrothermal Environment

Abstract

Various materials, depending on the personality of the artist, are required for contemporary art. Thus, it is necessary to decipher the expressive intentions of the artist and characteristics of the materials required for the conservation of such art. The purpose of this study is to analyze the causes underlying the deterioration of sculptures made from soap and to determine the ideal hygrothermal environment required to stably exhibit and store these artworks. Furthermore, we aim to maintain the long-term structures of the artworks in accordance with the changing expressions and intentions of the artist. Our analysis confirmed that the extracts of the soap sculptures were composed of glycerin and that the sculptures were sensitive to humidity. Moreover, we determined that a relative humidity (RH.) of approximately 60~65% made for an appropriate hygrothermal environment required to preserve the sculptures. We also preserved each work in various ways by applying appropriate preservation treatment, and found that the optimum preservation environment for soap sculptures was a temperature of 20±2°C and a RH. of 60±5%.