The art of conservation

Aerial shot of the Getty Conservation Institute campus

Source: Image courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Trust

The Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles is developing innovative new approaches to art conservation. Fiona Case paid them a visit

There are different challenges in conserving modern art compared to older works. For a start, the artists may still be alive and may not want their compositions meddled with. But many 20th century works of art are in serious danger, as the plastics they were made from start to decay.