Restoration Techniques for a Vandalized Aluminum Artwork: A Case Study of Lucio Fontana’s Teatrino from Les Quattro Oggetti e Due Poesie collection

Abstract

This thesis investigates and evaluates various shaping methods for restoring a vandalized aluminum artwork. The methods examined include mechanical cold-working, hot-working – a soft annealing technique, and a combination of both. This study is motivated by the need to restore Teatrino (30/50) by Lucio Fontana, part of the Les Quattro Oggetti collection, which suffered deformation due to vandalism. When the artwork was on loan from the Gothenburg Museum of Art to The City of Gothenburg, it was carved with an inscription near the artist's signature. Given the softness of aluminum, which makes it prone to scratching and deformation, removing the carving poses a risk of further damage and potential loss of the artist's signature. The selected treatment methods are grounded in traditional metal restoration practices used by conservators and artisans. The techniques are carried out on mock-ups replicating the vandalized area to develop a practical restoration approach specifically for the vandal carving on the artwork. The results provide valuable information regarding the outcome of mechanical cold working and soft annealing performed on thin aluminum sheets. The evaluation of the results establish that soft annealing is the least invasive and provides the best results with its ability to visibly reduce the carving and not cause deformation to the surrounding areas. This nudges the action plan for the artwork by Lucio Fontana closer to a possible treatment method.