Ten case studies - challenges and results

Within the framework of the European research project digital art conservation, ten representative case studies were selected by the six project partners. These included works by Jeffrey Shaw, Nam June Paik and Herbert W. Franke at the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Technology Karlsruhe. The project is currently in the realization phase. Prior to this, a documentation model was developed, which takes into consideration the characteristics of digital media art, in order to provide a shared basis for inquiry. For the preparation of each conservation concept, interviews were conducted not only with the artists, but also with the people involved. Aspects of the documentation model used will be presented in the course of the lecture, along with measures that are still to be taken and results that have already been achieved. Examples of several challenges and solution proposals (e.g. screencast) will be shown, based on the case studies of Jeffrey Shaw's "The Legible City", Samuel Rousseau's "Untitled" and Herbert W. Franke's collection of antique computers. The results of the project will flow into a publication and an educational touring exhibition "Digital Art Works", presented for the first time on 29 October 2011 at ZKM.

 


Biography
Arnaud Obermann M.A., born in 1977 in Rastatt, Germany, trained as a media designer for print and digital media. After graduating from the University of Media Stuttgart (library and media management), he successfully completed the master course Conservation of New Media and Digital Information at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart. Since 2010 Arnaud Obermann has been conservation coordinator for the INTERREG project digital art conservation at ZKM | Center for Art and Media Technology Karlsruhe. He has also been involved in several other productions, particularly: - "Expanded Cinema Study Collection" (Tate Modern, Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart) - "Jürgen Claus: Das audio visuelle Zeitalter" (Hatje Cantz).