Reuse and Recycling: Implications in Japanese Painting Conservation

Most Japanese paintings and calligraphies have survived over the centuries, in spite of their inherent fragility, as a direct result of periodic conservation treatments.The current state of a Japanese painting is a moment in time along a continuum of decisions and circumstances that greatly influence the appearance, function, and appreciation of the work of art.Display formats such as hanging scrolls and folding screens are complex arrangements of specialized, high-value materials such as gold brocades, decorative metal fittings, and lacquered end knobs.While the mount's primary function is to physically support the artwork, it imparts an important aesthetic component as well.Because the format of an artwork is contingent on the intended display setting, the format may undergo significant changes throughout the lifetime of a work.A single handscroll may be divided into separate hanging scrolls, for example, and sold as individual works of art.Therefore, the format and mounting play an important role in the function and identity of the artwork, and often contain important information on its history.Due to the physical requirements of display, most conservation treatments of Japanese paintings prioritize renewal and replacement, rather than reuse and recycling.Deteriorated lining papers and mounting brocades, even those of high value, must be replaced if they can no longer safely support and protect the artwork.When materials are reused, recycled, or repurposed, there is detailed reasoning behind these choices, and implications that may go beyond the physical preservation of the artwork.This article will present several examples of reuse and recycling in conservation treatments carried out at the Asian Conservation Studio at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA).Although these treatments were carried out in the context of the display of Japanese artworks in a US museum, the choices and decision-making process were guided by past treatments and grounded in traditional training, and sought to contribute to the preservation, appreciation, and understanding of these unique and important works of art.