This document discusses conservation as an interdisciplinary field that involves preserving cultural and natural heritage. It defines conservation as measures to safeguard tangible and intangible heritage for present and future generations. The three main types of conservation are preventive conservation to avoid deterioration, remedial conservation to arrest current damage, and restoration to facilitate appreciation and use. Conservation requires backgrounds in fine arts, sciences, and related fields. Career opportunities in conservation include specializations in books/paper, textiles, architecture, conservation science, and more. Statutory bodies and laws in Malaysia also support conservation efforts of natural, cultural, and built heritage.

1. CONSERVATION
Compiled by
Department of Architecture and Environmental Design
Centre for Foundation Studies
International Islamic University Malaysia

2. CONSERVATION
PROFESSION IN APPLIED ARTS

3.  DEFINITION
 TYPE OF CONSERVATION
 INTERDISCPLINARY FIELD
 CAREER OPPURTUNITY
 STATUTORY BODIES
 CONSERVATION LAW IN MALAYSIA
 BUILDING AND ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION
 CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRESERVATION
OF ART OBJECT.
CONTENTS

4. Definition:
 Conservation - all measures and actions aimed at
safeguarding tangible (physical) and intangible
(non physical e.g culture/tradition) cultural heritage
while ensuring its accessibility to present and
future generations.
 Conservation activities include: examination,
documentation, treatment, and preventive care. All
of this work is supported by research and
education.
 Conservation embraces -
Preventive conservation, Remedial conservation
and Restoration.
CONSERVATION

5. Definition:
Based on Historical Heritage Criteria UNESCO,
Heritage Conservation could be divided into
three parts:
1. Natural Heritage
2. Cultural Heritage (monuments, group of
buildings, Sites)
3. Combination of natural and cultural heritage.
CONSERVATION

6. i-Preventive conservation
- all measures and actions aimed at avoiding and minimizing
future deterioration or loss. They are carried out within the
context or on the surroundings of an item, but more often a
group of items, whatever their age and condition.
-These measures and actions are indirect – they do not
interfere with the materials and structures of the items. They
do not modify their appearance.
-Examples of preventive conservation are appropriate
measures and actions for registration, storage, handling,
packing and transportation, security, environmental
management (light, humidity, pollution and pest control),
emergency planning, education of staff, public awareness,
Legal compliance.
CONSERVATION

7. CONSERVATION, continue…
ii-Remedial conservation - all actions directly applied to
an item or a group of items aimed at arresting current
damaging processes or reinforcing their structure. These
actions are only carried out when the items are in such a
fragile condition or deteriorating at such a rate, that they
could be lost in a relatively short time. These actions
sometimes modify the appearance of the items.
Examples of remedial conservation
are disinfestation of textiles,
desalination of ceramics, de-
acidification of paper, dehydration of
wet archaeological materials,
stabilization of corroded metals,
consolidation of mural paintings,
removing weeds from mosaics.

8. CONSERVATION,continue…
iii- Restoration – all actions directly applied to a single and
stable item aimed at facilitating its appreciation,
understanding and use. These actions are only carried out
when the item has lost part of its significance or function
through past alteration or deterioration. They are based on
respect for the original material. Most often such actions
modify the appearance of the item.
Examples of restoration are
retouching a painting, reassembling
a broken sculpture, reshaping a
basket, filling losses on a glass
vessel.

9. Conservation is an Interdisciplinary
field as conservators have
backgrounds in the fine arts,
sciences (including chemistry,
biology and materials science), and
closely related disciplines, such as
art history, archaeology, studio art
and anthropology. They also have
design, fabrication, artistic, and
other special skills necessary for
the practical application of that
knowledge.
CONSERVATION -
INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD

10. The conservator applies some simple
ethical guidelines, such as:
 Minimal intervention.
 Appropriate materials and methods that aim
to be reversible to reduce possible problems
with future treatment, investigation and use.
 Full documentation of all work undertaken.
 The conservator aims to take into account
the views of the stakeholder and to apply
their professional expertise accordingly.
CONSERVATION

11. CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Specialization within the profession:
The profession of art conservation is broad and encompasses many
areas of specialty. Some specialties within art conservation would
include:
 Book and paper conservation
 Textile Conservation
 Architectural conservation
 Conservation science
 Natural conservation
 Electronic media conservation
– Digital preservation
– Media preservation
 Photograph conservation
– Film preservation

12.  Book and paper conservation
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank
sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other various material, usually
fastened together to hinge at one side.
Books may also refer to works of literature, such as magazines,
journals or newspapers.
The Arabs revolutionized the book's
production and its binding in the
medieval Islamic world. They were the
first to produce paper books after they
learnt papermaking from the Chinese
in the 8th century. Particular skills were
developed for script writing (Arabic
calligraphy), miniatures and
bookbinding.

13. Textile Conservation
Textile preservation refers to the
processes by which textiles are cared
for and maintained to be preserved
from future damage.
 The concept of textile preservation
applies to a wide range of artifacts,
including carpets, quilts, clothing,
flags, curtains, as well as objects
which ‘’contain’’ textiles, such as
upholstered furniture, dolls, and
accessories such as fans, parasols,
gloves and hats or bonnets.
Ainu ceremonial
dress on display
under glass in the
British Museum.

14. Damaged areas are often able to
be conserved, using techniques such
as couching, re-weaving, and/or
supporting with fabrics of compatible
fibers.
The cause for decay in textiles is the
environment in which they are stored.
- Light, temperature, and humidity can
all contribute to a textile’s health or
deterioration, depending on their
intensity.
- Additionally, pests, chemicals, and
pollutants may also cause damage to
an antique fabric.
Textile Conservation
Songket

15. Architectural conservation
 Architectural conservation deals with issues of prolonging
the life and integrity of architectural character and integrity,
such as form and style, and/or its constituent materials,
such as stone, brick, glass, metal, and wood.
 Architectural conservation also refers to issues of
identification, policy, regulation, and advocacy associated
with the entirety of the cultural and built environment.
Conservation patches on
mosaics wall of Hospital de la
Santa Creu I Sant Pau

16. Natural Heritage Conservation
 Natural Heritage Conservation deals with issues of nation to
implement strategies, action, plans and program on
biological diversity for the conservation and sustainable of
natural resources.
 Including ethic, management, role of local communities and
public awareness in preserving natural heritage such as
forest, sea, rivers and existing biodiversity.
Mangrove and bird sanctuary conservation area, Kuala Gula, Perak.

17. Statutory Bodies in Conservation
 Jabatan Warisan Malaysia.
 Jabatan Muzuim dan antikuiti
 Badan Warisan Malaysia
 Local authorities
Conservation patches on
mosaics wall of Hospital de la
Santa Creu I Sant Pau

18. Conservation law in Malaysia
 Antiquity Act (Act 168)
 Town and country Act 1976 (Act 172)
 Local Authority Act 1976 (Act 171)
 Malacca Enactment 1995
 National Heritage Act 2005

19. Building and
Architectural
conservation

20. 7 ascending degrees of intervention
towards building Conservation
1. Prevention
2. Preservation
3. Consolidation
4. Restoration
5. Rehabilitation
6. Reproduction
7. Reconstruction

21. Prevention
 Protecting cultural property by controlling
its environment thus preventing agents of
decay and damage from becoming
active.

22. Preservation
 Deals directly with cultural property. Its
objective to keep it in existing state.
Repairs must be carried out when
necessary to prevent further decay.
Istana Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.

23. Consolidation
 Physical addition or application into
actual fabric to ensure continued
durability or structural integrity.

24. Restoration
 To revive the original concept or legibility
of the object.
Istana Sultan Sulaiman, Jugra, Banting, Selangor.

25. Rehabilitation
 To keep it in use which involve adaptive
alteration and fewer changes.
Bangunan Persatuan Sejarah Trengganu- adaptive re use from
house to museum and office for
Jabatan Warisan.

26. Reproduction
 Copying an artifact in order to replace
some missing or decayed parts,
generally decorative to maintain
aesthetic harmony.

27. Reconstruction
 Done for historic buildings that are
damage by fire, earthquake or war.
Bukit Kepong Police Station – before and after