LETÍCIA R. L. FERNANDES, Willi de Barros Gonçalves, Gerusa de Alkmim Radicchi
LETÍCIA R. L. FERNANDES - Conservator-Restorer of Cultural Heritage (graphic documents, easel painting, polychrome wood sculpture, and preventive conservation / exhibition design) at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG / 2017-2023). Researcher funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil (CNPq) at the Laboratory of Antarctic Studies in Human Sciences (LEACH), with work focused on the conservation of archaeological objects, identification, and exhibition of archaeological textile fibers (2021-2023).
Willi de Barros Gonçalves - Ph.D. in arts (emphasis on preventive conservation – Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, 2013), MSc. in mechanical engineering (UFMG, 2000), Architect and urban planner (UFMG, 1994). Associate professor teaching in the undergraduate Course in Conservation and Restoration of Movable Cultural Assets, and in two graduate Programs: Arts, and Built Environment and Sustainable Heritage, at UFMG. Coordinator of the Preventive Conservation Laboratory (LACONPRE), affiliated with Center for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (CECOR) in the Fine Arts School of UFMG. Vice President of the Brazilian National Association for Research in Technology and Heritage Science (ANTECIPA).
Gerusa de Alkmim Radicchi - PhD from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain). Member of the Laboratory of Antarctic Studies in Human Sciences at UFMG (Brazil). Specialist in the field of Conservation and Restoration in Archaeology.
Preventive conservation guidelines for exhibitions of archaeological textile fragments: a case study at the Laboratory of Antarctic Studies in Human Sciences of the Federal University of Minas Gerais
This poster presents a monograph for the conclusion of an undergraduate Course in Conservation-Restoration of Movable Cultural Heritage. The research addresses the principles of preventive conservation that must be considered in the development of a proposal for a temporary exhibition of archaeological textiles, emphasizing infrastructure and security aspects. The case study is a collection belonging to the scientific collection of the Laboratory of Antarctic Studies in Human Sciences at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (LEACH/UFMG), consisting of fabric fragments found on Livingston Island, Antarctica. This collection resulted from a research project, which seeks to understand the early human occupation strategies of the Antarctic continent. The intersections between conservation-restoration, archaeology, and museology are discussed, focusing on preventive conservation applied to exhibition design, reinforcing interdisciplinary aspects of heritage science. The study was conducted through an investigation of key parameters - such as climate control, lighting, furniture, packaging, transportation, and security - necessary for the preservation of the LEACH textile collection in a proposed exhibition at the School of Fine Arts gallery at UFMG. The methodology included a literature review, analysis of the textile fragments’ vulnerabilities, and environmental management parameters. The results present guidelines for the preservation of archaeological textiles in exhibition environments, considering the specific aspects of space, furniture, and the material characteristics of the textile fragments. Preventive conservation is crucial for the preservation of cultural heritage, involving indirect measures to protect and maintain the integrity of cultural assets. In the context of risk management, it aims to reduce risks that can cause loss of value in cultural assets, prolong their material permanence, and minimize the need for restoration. Exhibitions are instruments for knowledge production and transmission, providing a space for public and collective discussions. Therefore, the involvement of the conservator-restorer is fundamental in ensuring the effectiveness of preventive conservation measures.
Preventive conservation of collections; archaeological textiles; exhibition design and conservation of cultural heritage