Enfilade

The Material Life of Things Project
Courtauld Institute of Art, London, 2010-2011

Applications due by the 12 March 2010

Project coordinated by Dr Francesco Lucchini

In recent years, the evidence of technical and material analysis has become increasingly important to art-historical interpretation. Beyond their traditional role in informing the restoration of artefacts, technical investigations have greatly contributed to our understanding of how works of art were made. Yet, less critical attention has been paid to the ‘use-life’ of artefacts – that is, to the manipulation, exchange and consumption of artefacts throughout their life histories. Drawing together researchers from different areas of expertise including curators and conservators, this research project aims to explore the material lives of artefacts in a variety of media, encouraging object-based, methodological and theoretical discussions relating to the shifting relationship between artefacts, people and environments throughout the life history of particular objects or classes of objects. Emphasis is placed on works of art as material objects considering the ways in which they are manipulated, re-made and unmade by different individuals, at different times, manifesting different social and cultural practices

Aims, Issues and Themes

The aim of project is to draw together scholars working across the dicipline in order to research and discuss aspects of the material life of works of art from different periods, claryfying theoretical and methodological issues and advancing our understanding of the subject. Among issues that can be raised are the following:

• Temporality, authenticity and change
• Fragmentation and reconstruction
• Aggregation of artefacts and the status of the object
• Ritual damage/reparation and pre-modern restorations
• Material history and conservation of new media
• Durability, ephemerality and material residuals
• Recontextualisation/decontextualisation, artefacts in consonant and dissonant environments
• Confiscation, displacement and repatriation
• Individual vs. corporate attitudes towards materiality of art
• Commoditisation and decommoditisation
• Ownership, market and the value of materiality
• Historiographic and methodological approaches to the materiality of art
• The concept of ‘object biography’ and its implications/limitations

The Material Life of Things International Research Group

As part of project, scholars working across the discipline are invited to join a research group to discuss various topics and address methodological questions within the theme of The Material Life of Things. Topics are welcome from all periods and could address any aspect of The Material Life of Things, with the issues above providing a starting point. The group will consist of 15-20 scholars meeting in the academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11, starting in spring 2010. Group members will also participate in symposia to take place during the time span of the project. Applications to join the research group are welcome from scholars at all stages of their career.

To Apply

Deadline for applications: 12 March 2010. Applicants should send a CV, covering letter and a proposal of not more than 300 words detailing how they would develop their topic over the period of the project. Applications should be addressed to Professor Caroline Arscott, Head of Research, and sent c/o Cynthia de Souza, Research Forum, The Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN or sent by email c/o researchforum@courtauld.ac.uk. For enquiries please contact: researchforum@courtauld.ac.uk concerning application procedures or francesco.lucchini@courtauld.ac.uk concerning the content and nature of the project.