/library/oar/handle/123456789/8103 2026-06-18T23:35:23Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/147558 Title: Hidden narratives : the role of archival exploration in decoding Liu Kang’s painting practice Authors: Lizun, Damian Abstract: This article examines the critical role of archival exploration in decoding the painting practice of a modern Singaporean artist Liu Kang (1911–2004). Given Liu Kang’s undocumented artistic process and the absence of preserved paint tubes or technical notes, the research methodology combined a wide range of primary and secondary archival records with previous analytical investigations of his paintings. By examining works from the National Gallery Singapore and the Liu family collections created between 1927 and 1999, the research deduced the brands and types of materials he used. Hence, this article highlights the crucial and complementary role of diverse archival sources in technical art research. Consequently, primary archival sources, such as interviews with the artist, studio photographs and a TV documentary, provided evidence of his tools and methods. These were cross‑referenced with secondary sources, including colourmen printed advertisements, trade directories and colourmen catalogues, which established the availability of art supplies in Shanghai, Paris, and Singapore throughout his career. Ultimately, these diverse archival sources enriched our understanding of Liu Kang’s painting practice. They connected the historical context of his artistic activities with the technical data, allowing the research to piece together narratives that might otherwise have remained obscured. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/146878 Title: The chapel at Palazzo de la Salle and its painted decoration : findings from the 2016-2019 conservation project Authors: Porter, Jennifer; Pasian, Chiara; De Angelis, Roberta Abstract: This paper presents findings from the 2016–2019 conservation project of the domestic chapel inside Palazzo de La Salle, Valletta, carried out by the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage at the University of Malta. The project stabilized and analyzed two previously known oil-on-stone decorative schemes: the early-to-mid 17th-century Altar Surround and the Baroque Frieze (dated via newly discovered heraldry to 1731–1736). Conservation interventions also uncovered two entirely hidden painted elements: a decorated wooden ceiling cornice and a lower illusionistic architectural architectural dado program. Material analysis revealed advanced oil-on-stone technical execution alongside extensive pigment alteration over time (specifically smalt and arsenic sulphides), dramatically changing the original aesthetic reading of the room. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/146849 Title: Change and continuity : significance and physical history in the conservation of the 16th-century Great Siege wall paintings in Valletta, Malta Authors: Porter, Jennifer; Pasian, Chiara; Patterson, Teal; Ruiz, Naomi; Gorodetska, Mariia; Parisi, Stephanie Abstract: Knowledge of the physical history of the Great Siege wall paintings (1576–81) by Matteo Perez D'Aleccio in the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta, Malta, has been fundamental in understanding their current condition and the continuity between their original function and current significance. It has also directly influenced the conservation approach employed by the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage, University of Malta. Diverse bodies of evidence—including archival photographs, physical evidence of past interventions and damage, and noninvasive methods such as multispectral imaging (MSI) and in situ microscopy—were synthesized to build a cohesive narrative and inform conservation strategies. This study demonstrates how the conservation and presentation of artworks can influence their perception and interpretation, and in turn their continuing relevance to the society within which they function. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/146848 Title: Design rationale and field testing of a gypsum-based grout for wall painting stabilization in the Chapel of Niketas the Stylite, Cappadocia, Turkey Authors: Porter, Jennifer; Taniguchi, Yoko; Temur Yıldız, Hatice Abstract: The rock-cut chapel of Niketas the Stylite (Cappadocia, Turkey) is decorated with 7-8th C CE painted gypsum plasters on a tuff support. A 2015 survey found that detached areas of plaster required stabilization through injection grouting. This paper presents the rationale behind the preliminary development of calcium sulfate hemihydrate (HH, CaSO4·0.5H20)-based injection grouts for this purpose and their testing in the field. Research into gypsum-based conservation materials is limited compared to lime, and there are very few examples of the development of proprietary gypsum grouts for the stabilization of wall paintings on gypsum plaster. This study therefore reviews the existing literature, and explains the rationale behind the selection of materials for the conservation of the paintings, including a discussion of the potential risks and benefits associated with the use of lime and gypsum binders. Field testing focused on the development of HH-based grouts formulated with a range of aggregates and fluidizers. The grout mixes were tested against clearly-defined working properties and some of the performance characteristics for the intervention. Existing field-testing protocols were adapted as necessary to the working conditions, context and materials of the site and paintings. 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z