There’s bad times ahead for the world’s art treasures, especially those located in tropical nations. With climate change causing increased and prolonged warmth and dampness, these art treasures are prime targets for mold, insects, and micro-organisms that will cause decay and destruction.
It doesn’t help that many of the museums in tropical nations lack the air conditioning systems that would protect or at least reduce damage to these art treasures.
What to do to stop this destruction is the topic of conversation at this week’s 4-day United Nations affiliated conference between biotech scientists and art curators in Caracas, Venezuela. It’s a meeting of the minds between scientists and art curators, aimed at promoting innovate ways to reduce the decay and destruction and ensure that these art treasures for around for future generations.
Two concepts in particular will be discussed. Prof. Giancarlo Ranalli from the Universitá degli Studi del Molise in Pesche, Italy will discuss the use of use of micro-organisms rather than chemicals to clean and restore art treasures.
And the other concept, to be discussed by Spanish researcher Nieves Valentin Rodrigo of the Instituto de Patrimonio Cultural de España, Madrid, is the use of micro-organisms as biosensors. Apparently, fungi and bacteria can be used as early warning tools to indicate not only significant environmental fluctuations but also highlight the impact that too many visitors have on the art treasures.
(source)
Image: Just Pen