Preserving the past: the meticulous science of mural conservation
Since the 1920s, massive Buddhist murals have anchored the Penn Museum's Chinese Rotunda. This video follows conservation interns as they perform a detailed survey to document the current state of these monumental artifacts.
Conservation interns Cassia Balogh and Morgan Burgess are conducting a comprehensive condition survey of the murals. Using multi-layer photo editing software, they examine every centimeter of the surface to identify over fifteen distinct types of degradation.
The process involves documenting complex phenomena, including surface flaking, cracks, exposed grounds, and evidence of past restoration efforts. This painstaking work is supported by the Michael Feng and Winnie Chin Feng, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, and the Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.
Source: The Buddhist Murals: Up Close & Personal, a Conservation Adventure
