Issues of restoring time-based media
Béla Kónya, chief conservator at the Ludwig Museum
MúzeumCafé 50.
BélaKónya’s official title in the Budapest Ludwig Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art is chief conservator, namely he is in charge of artwork conservation. It may not sound very interesting in itself, but what he actually does is very exciting and, in particular, pioneering. He is a restorer looking into the future who is thinking about the conservation of time-based artworks, though he originally graduated from the University of Fine Arts in stone sculpture restoration. On the initiative of director JúliaFabényi, he is organising a conference on the preservation of media art at the Ludwig Museum this December. MAPS (Media Art Preservation Symposium), which originally wasKónya’s idea, is the first in Hungary to focus on topics such as how an interactive video installation or an internet-based art product can be preserved. He has been in charge of collection management at the Ludwig Museum since 2009. It was JúliaFabényi who urged for the contemporary art museum to take on contemporary artwork conservation, and as an institution begin, in effect, to be involved in conserving time-based art. Previously, a contemporary art restorer’s job focused on objects. In the 20th century artists used perishable materials. They no longer aimed to create lasting pieces of art. Thirteen per cent of the Ludwig’s collection comprises time-based and media artworks. They are as much part of Hungary’s cultural heritage as paintings and sculpture. In addition, items of media art are constantly increasing. At present, BélaKónya is studying the theoretical and practical possibilities of conserving media art at the Doctoral School of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. At the Ludwig Museum his main activities include the restoration of artworks, their preparation for transport, exhibitions inside and outside Hungary.