"Why can't anything be easy": The Conservation of Complex Sites

Conservation of cultural heritage requires sensitivity to a number of complex and sometimes contradicting values. Conservation is not passive but active and involves alteration. Balancing the material and immaterial needs of sites and objects with long and complex layers of history present a particular challenge to the conservator. Contemporary conservators will have to become increasingly flexible and observant with regard to issues of authenticity and aesthetics in what is becoming a dynamic and complex discipline.    

This post refers to coursework done for ARCLG141 (2015-16), one of the core courses of the UCL MA  Principles of Conservation. As part of their assessed work for this course, students were asked to design and produce a poster communicating specific aspects of conservation. We hope you enjoy our work! Comments are most welcome.