Preventive Conservation: A Month with Shimels and Ayenew at The Phoebus Foundation
This month, we welcomed Shimels Ayele Yalew and Ayenew Sileshi Demssie. They assisted our team with various activities focused on the preventive conservation of different works from The Phoebus Foundation collection.
Singelberg, located on the Schelde in the industrial port, offers a stunning contrast between the unique setting and the works of masterful artists such as Minnebo, Atelier van Lieshout, Pablo Atchugarry, Michael Aerts, and many others. However, this location also presents challenges, such as the impact of air pollution and freshwater on the sculptures. Therefore, a preventive approach is essential.
Ayenew focuses on the conservation of architectural heritage in his doctoral research, using various analytical methods based on measuring the outdoor climate. Thanks to his expertise, he is working with Shimels to assess the damage to the sculpture park. The condition of both the outdoor and indoor sculptures has been carefully inspected and documented. Many of the sculptures were treated preventively a year ago; for example, some bronze sculptures received a new layer of wax, while marble sculptures were cleaned and checked for mechanical damage. By maintaining the annual inspections, the impact of the outdoor climate on the sculptures is increasingly well documented and predicted.
Ayenew Sileshi Demssie is a doctoral student at the University of Antwerp, specialising in conservation and restoration.
Over the past month and a half, he has focused on inspecting and documenting the condition of paintings, sculptures, and other artworks. His work included preparing detailed condition reports, cleaning sculptures using dry techniques, and identifying potential risks for future intervention.
Ayenew found that most artworks are in good condition but emphasised the need for ongoing inspection and intervention to ensure their long-term preservation.
Shimels has extensive knowledge in the conservation of historical books, specialising in Ethiopian Coptic manuscripts on parchment. This expertise proved invaluable while studying The Phoebus Foundation’s book collection. In his doctoral research, Shimels focuses on the preventive conservation of historic parchment. As a result, he has been able to identify various types of parchment and, under the guidance of conservator Oliver Claes, carry out several conservation projects, including cleaning pages using mild solvents and dry techniques.
Shimels Ayele Yalew is a lecturer at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia and a doctoral student at the University of Antwerp, with a BA and MA in History and Heritage Management.
At The Phoebus Foundation, his tasks included assessing the condition of various artworks, such as books, paintings, and sculptures, preparing detailed condition reports, and carrying out cleaning activities.
Ayenew and Shimels reviewed a total of over 90 artworks. Additionally, they examined an important series from Pedro Figari’s oeuvre and gained insight into the impact of oil paint on pressed cardboard. They also assessed and documented the works currently on display at the CoBrA Depot. This collection, with its wide variety of artists’ materials, is extremely sensitive. Updating condition reports is essential to ensure the state of the collection. Their contributions this summer were therefore of great importance, and the experience was immensely valuable.
Based on their findings, The Phoebus Foundation’s atelier will adjust its approach and may involve a specialised team for this ongoing conservation. This presents a significant but exciting challenge!
Visitors often arrive by bike or via the waterbus to the site. Since the restructuring of the tours and guides at The Phoebus Foundation, it is now also possible to book a guided visit. Weekend reservations are free but mandatory to ensure visitor safety.