For the second time we would like to announce our advanced course East Meets West – the traditional Japanese techniques for paper conservation – for which there are still few registration places available. If you would like to make a binding registration, please fill out the attached form and register by January 31, 2020.

This new course invites professionals in the field of paper conservation with practical experience of the traditional Japanese technique or the conservation of Asian art works on paper. The advanced course was held for the first time in 2019 according to the requests from many of the participants of our basic course. It was successful and many participants made a positive resume. This has encouraged us to offer another advanced course in 2020, which we would like to offer to all interested, not only the participants of our previous basic courses.
East Meets West – basic course started in 2009 with Mr Kazunori Oryu as the instructor of six workshops over the years. Mr Keisuke Sugiyama followed as the instructor of five workshops since 2015. Before he has been supervising the conservation of Japanese and Asian art works at the Hirayama studio in the British Museum for eight years. His experiences with the different approaches on conservation let him understand very deeply the methods from both, the Japanese and European sides.
Based on an extensive exchange with Mr Sugiyama and by considering your distinct requests we have been able to define the topics for an advanced course of East Meets West, and to set up the program.

Course duration: Four day course
Date: August 24th-27th 2020 (Monday through Thursday)
Number of participants: 10 Conservators, 5 places still available!
Location: Bavarian State Library, Institute of Preservation and Conservation (Munich, Germany)
Course Fee: 760 €
Closing date: January 31, 2020 – Register now! Just fill out the attached form and send it to: ibr-sekretariat(at)bsb-muenchen.de.

The course will give a broader and deeper insight into the knowledge of the methods and materials of Japanese traditional conservation techniques and their adaption.
The focus will be on the characteristics of the various materials. For example, the dimensional change of the different materials and their control in Japanese conservation. Furthermore, knowing the differences between the properties of Western and Japanese paper is very important. Therefore, we will observe and compare these characteristics of paper through various experiments to find the appropriate application, for instance for humidification, flattening, lining and drying methods. There will be lining exercises with European objects (for example a brittle old poster) to gain more experience and to become more confident in making decisions. In addition, the application of Funori (Japanese seaweed) as an alternative adhesive that is often used in Japanese conservation is illuminated for European conservation: the way of doing Kariura (temporary lining) or Facing will be shown in theory and practical demonstration.
One of the main points understanding Japanese conservation is “skill”. The Japanese paper conservators emphasize that “skill” can only be acquired through long training and practice. We are taking this important issue into account by a daily “warm-up” with lining exercises to increase your confidence and handling experience for the applied materials and techniques.

Workshop registration