The application of a kinetic art assessment template to the conservation treatment of Frank Hinder’s work Dark Triptych

Abstract

Kinetic art can present in a wide range of forms and media, but regardless, all generate intentional movement either virtual or real. The manifestation and experience of this motion is vital to preserve the original artistic intent, interpretation and long-term aesthetic of the object. While non-virtual kinetic artworks can share many of the physical characteristics of functional and technology items, it is the need to sustain ongoing motion on display and the consequences of this need which differentiate them from more typically static exhibition pieces and challenge conventional treatment approaches. For technology-based kinetic art, an understanding of the range and nature of the intended movement, the core materials, likely failure modes, and the significance and configuration of key components, are all relevant in determining future risks, and degrees of ethical conservation intervention. Engineering-based methodologies, resources and tools have direct application to kinetic art assessment and documentation, and have contributed to the development of a generic kinetic art documentation template. This paper discusses the derivation of the template through the identification of the physical characteristics of kinetic art and its unique conservation treatment issues and failure modes. It also presents a case study of its application to the conservation treatment of a 1969 luminal kinetic art work by Frank Hinder titled Dark Triptych.