Consolidation of thick matte paint layers

This is a query on behalf of Tora Myre, School of Conservation in
Copenhagen.

    The Museum of Contemporary Art in Oslo owns a work of art on paper
    made by the Norwegian artist Raymon Slattli in 1987.

    According to information from the artist the work was made by
    spraying the paper with a commercial spray adhesive; the pigment
    (iron oxygen, Fe3O4) was sprinkled over the adhesive film and
    finally the surface of the "paint layer" was fixed by means of
    Talens fixative conc.

    Although the object is fairly new it already presents huge
    conservation problems, since the thick matte paint layer tends to
    split into two layers. A lot of cracks can be observed and in some
    places the paint layer is lost. As a result the object cannot be
    exhibited in its present state.

    Has anyone seen this technique before? Does anyone have any
    experience in how to consolidate a splitting thick matte paint
    layer?

Ingelise Nielsen

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:70
                   Distributed: Sunday, March 5, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-70-010
                                  ***