A replica of conservation : those that, at a distance, resemble ivory

Abstract

This text embodies a process of deconstructing museological and ecological conservation. By constituting a part in the multi-layered art work Those That, at a Distance, Resemble Ivory, which culminates in a replica ceramic elephant tusk and a film that chronicles the process of the object coming into being, the text invites reflection upon forms of representation, replicas, and embodiments of various materials, disciplines, and institutions. Those That, at a Distance, Resemble Ivory was made in collaboration with conservators, scientists, archaeologists, ceramicists, and technicians across various museums. This approach allowed for a disruption of perspectives and methods in the field of conservation, offering new ways of thinking for everyone involved, including myself. The text does not offer overt resolutions. Instead, it registers the performance of a process with a pluralistic understanding of the subject, composed of suggestions and varieties of knowledge systems.