Home | News | 03.03.2025

At the Faculty of Fine Arts – Skopje, UKIM, a three-day international, scientific, and artistic conservation workshop titled "From Diagnosis to Conservation: Advanced Methods for Analysis and Cleaning of Artworks"‎ was held from February 18 to 20, 2025. The workshop was attended by 17 students, and the lecturers and trainers were Prof. Dr. Stamatis Boyatzis, Prof. Dr. Ekaterini Malea, Prof. Dr. George Panagiaris, Prof. Dr. Vasilike Argyropoulos, Prof. Dr. Stavroula Rapti from the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art at the University of Western Attica (UNIWA) in Athens, Greece, within the framework of the ERASMUS+ program. The main goal of the workshop was to provide practical knowledge and diagnostic techniques for the preservation of artworks for students who are studying the elective course Restoration and Conservation under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. MA Marija Sotirovska Bogdanovska.

The students were trained in using microscopic techniques for examining damaged objects, as well as applying advanced diagnostic methods such as XRF and FTIR spectroscopy. Emphasis was placed on working with hydrogel systems for material cleaning and electrochemical methods for the protection of metal and silver objects. In the theoretical part of the workshop, students were introduced to the importance of ethical considerations in the work of conservators and various molecular analysis methods. The practical part of the workshop included working with micro-domains, the application of hydrogels, and processing metal and silver objects with electrochemical methods. Students had the opportunity to work with sensitive materials and gain hands-on experience in applying conservation techniques.

The workshop not only enhanced the practical skills of the students but also enabled knowledge exchange between the students and professors. The students gained a clear understanding of the current methods for protecting artworks and the importance of proper diagnostics for selecting appropriate conservation techniques.

One aspect that stood out was the need for modernization of the conservation laboratory, which will ensure better working conditions and safety when handling chemicals. The workshop was successful and will continue to have a positive impact on the development of conservation practices at the Faculty of Fine Arts.