The restoration of Spies' paintings

By Amalia Pulungan

DENPASAR (JP): Prior to being exhibited, four of Spies' paintings from the presidential palace were renovated through a joint cooperation between the German and Indonesian governments and the Agung Rai Museum in Bali.

The work was undertaken by Renate Kant and his assistant Petra Klier, who spent three busy and challenging weeks completing the task in Ubud.

"We need to know the characteristics of the colors a painter uses in order to restore a painting. It also requires patience, accuracy and a high degree of concentration in examining the damage done to a painting," said Kant.

Two of the four paintings, Priest and Morning In Iseh, are from the collection of late president Sukarno. Calon Arang is from Agung Rai's private collection.

A layman may not notice the damage, but under a magnifying glass it becomes obvious. Kant revealed various colors not originally in Morning In Iseh for example. Small cracks were found in Calon Arang.

Kant pointed out that people often fail to take proper care of art, ignoring the fact that the works include cultural values.

"Seventy percent of old paintings are not damaged by wars and bombs but by neglect," he stated.

Improper handling during transportation is one of the common causes, said Kant.

According to Kant, there are several ways to prevent damage.

"Number one is a proper environment which will ensure that a painting will be protected from pollution, humidity and over exposure to light," he explained.

Sunlight is a major problem in Indonesia, given the country's tropical conditions. A painting should be kept from direct sunlight and spotlights.

"Too powerful a spotlight can damage a painting," he warned. "A painting can only absorb a maximum of 200 lux."

Camera flashes over 200 lux are also dangerous because prolonged exposure to light alters color pigments, said Kant, who has been in the restoration business for 25 years.

Proper storing, handling and packaging are also important in preserving a good painting, he said.

Owners should protect their paintings from animal droppings and insects which can leave marks on the art.

Kant also warned against improper restoration. Pointing to a painting in his restoration room, he said the owner ended up adding to the damage by trying to renovate the painting himself.

"Wrong restoration causes more damage, so don't encourage people to do it on their own," he stressed, adding that a collector can prevent damage, not correct them.

Kant says being a restorer isn't the way to become famous.

"It is a profession that requires a love for art. It takes at least six years to master the art of restoring, including studying the history of art and restoration techniques," he said.

He stated that a love of art and the awareness of the importance of preservation don't automatically come with ownership.

"Many collectors can afford to buy expensive paintings but fail to take good care of them," he said.