// Restoration by Lighting Design in today’s WSJ//

Great article today by Daniel Grant in the WSJ on Harvard’s work along with MIT and University of Basel to restore a group of 5 Rothko’s without actually touching their current state by using lighting design to account for the loss of pigment over time.

I love the idea of creating the original look of the piece of artwork, without actually changing the artwork itself. I think deterioration and the wearing of the art overtime actually create another element which is quite beautiful in its own right (although, let’s be honest, the removal of smoke from candles from murals by Caravaggio, definitely improves the experience).

With these Rothko’s those, I think it allows for viewers to both appreciate the works as they were originally intended, but also allows for the works to be displayed in their current state with “normal” lighting.

I suppose there are some purists out there who think that any manipulation of an artwork over time is taking away from the work and potentially disturbing or changing the REAL artwork — but would that art exist without an appreciating public?

I wonder if this will catch on….

Check the full article here.