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Living Matter Symposium/ Simposio La Materia Viva
The Preservation of Biological Materials Used in Contemporary Art/ Conservación de materiales orgánicos en el arte contemporáneo

Living Matter/La Materia Viva will discuss the broad implications and challenges (conceptual, ethical, and practical) associated with collecting, displaying, and preserving contemporary works that include biological materials. It will explore how the initial intention for the work might conflict with museum policies and the ways this might impact both the nature and lifespan of the work, present a range of possible solutions through case studies, and give an overview of current thinking and practices on this topic.

The two-and-a-half-day event will gather conservators, artists, art historians, and curators. It includes invited keynote addresses, lectures, as well as panel discussions and site visits. The symposium languages will be English and Spanish with simultaneous translation provided.

Organized by the Getty Conservation Institute, the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporaneo (MUAC) of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma Mexico, and ENCRyM (Escuela Nacional de Conservación, Restauración y Museografía "Manuel del Castillo Negrete").

Preliminary program, registration link, and information on funding opportunities can be found here: http://bit.ly/2NiLX5t

Registration closes May 19, 2019 

Adrián Villar Rojas, Theater of Disappearance, installation view, 2017,
the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Los Angeles.
Courtesy of the artist, Marian Goodman Gallery, New York/Paris/London;
kurimanzutto, Mexico City, and the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.
Photo credit: Studio Michel Zabé