Hi Roeland,

Thanks for providing so much more info -- from the original post it was hard
to tell what stage your organization was at on the issue making it was
difficult to jump in and help out in the way you requested.  Everything
you've just written sounds like good reasons to acquire the work.  I'm sorry
to hear this is a last piece by the artist - from the sounds of it, he must
have been a person who had a great and positive impact on others.  I agree
with the others who suggested you contact the Centre for Disease Control but
it should be okay.  I can think of no reason not to acquire the piece given
more complete knowledge of its circumstances and as I wrote before, when
there's a will there's a way!

I'm not an expert, but it still seems that conservation could be specific to
the format of the piece.  It probably needs to be encased in some sort of
mostly-permanent manner and then exhibited in that same container to prevent
unnecessary oxidization and to discourage entry of insects or bacteria.
Does anyone know if blood is light sensitive?  Maybe that will determine the
extent to which the object could tolerate being exhibited?

The Canadian Conservation Institute offers free advice on general
inquiries -- I'm sure they can offer some lead, at the very least:
[log in to unmask]

If images of the work do become available I hope you will post links to them
here -- I am very interested in learning more about the artist and this
particular piece.

Cheers,
Milena

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Roeland Stulemeijer
> Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 10:59 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: contemporary artwork with blood swaps
>
>
> My apologies to all, I mean swabs, gauze with blood.
>
> Before the artists recent passing on, he instructed his brother and a good
> friend how to assemble the work.  Nobody has seen the work but what I
> understand from the curator, it is his last work in which he wants to show
> his hardship and battle with his illness.
> As you understand there are no pictures available.
>
> Does this work fit in our collection?   Yes, as it would be another work
> done by him. (We have about 1200 of his works)
> Would we buy the work anyway?   I don’t know
> Does this work make an important contribution to society?
> Yes, it would be
> the last work of a well-known local artist.
> Does anyone on this list ever had to deal with conserving cotton
> gauze with
> blood? If so, how did you go about doing that?
>
> Please ignore the question on how to display the work, as this is
> the least
> of our worries.
>
> That the work could be hazardous is a big concern to us and as you
> understand, we would like to safeguard our visitors and ourselves from
> contagious diseases (if any). The family is not very open about any
> contagious diseases that the artist might have had.
> My curiosity goes towards your thoughts if you were offered a
> similar work.
> Do you see any difficulties in accepting the work and why (yes or no).
>
> Excuse my English as I it is not my native language.
> Thank you,
> Roeland Stulemeijer
> Conservator
> National University of Singapore Museums
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Tel: (+ 65) 874 8817
> Fax: (+ 65) 778 3738
> 10 Kent Ridge Crescent
> Singapore 119260

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