23 February 2025  Peering Beneath the Surface: Art Conservation Meets Cutting-Edge Technology The exhibition 'Gustav Klimt – Pigment & Pixel' at Vienna's Lower Belvedere delves into the hidden layers of Klimt's iconic works, merging traditional art conservation techniques with the latest advancements in technology. Running from February 20 to September 7, 2025, the exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse into the artist's process, materials, and the ongoing efforts to preserve his legacy. Conservators at the Belvedere have employed radiological imaging, infrared reflectography, and material analysis to uncover the intricate methods Klimt used in his paintings. These techniques reveal underlying sketches, adjustments made during the painting process, and the complex layering of precious metals like gold, silver, and even platinum—particularly during Klimt's renowned "Golden Period." Such analyses not only inform restoration practices but also deepen our understanding of Klimt's evolving artistic approach. AI and Art: Recolorizing the Lost Faculty Paintings A highlight of the exhibition is the groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence to reconstruct Klimt's lost Faculty Paintings—Medicine, Philosophy, and Jurisprudence. Originally commissioned for the ceiling of the Great Hall at the University of Vienna, these works were met with harsh criticism for their provocative imagery and were ultimately rejected. Described as too garish and erotic, they never reached their intended location. Instead, they entered private collections and were tragically destroyed in a fire at Schloss Immendorf in 1945, leaving only black-and-white photographs. In 2021, a collaborative project between Google Arts & Culture and the Belvedere sought to breathe new life into these lost masterpieces. Emil Wallner, a creative coder at the Google Arts & Culture Lab, developed an AI algorithm to recolor the monochrome images. The model was initially trained on a vast dataset of over 91,000 artworks to grasp general painting features, and subsequently fine-tuned with Klimt's existing pieces to emulate his distinctive color palette (details about developing the algorithm). Historical records, exhibition catalogs, and letters were meticulously analyzed to inform the AI's colorization choices. For instance, descriptions of "golden snakes" in the hair of figures in Jurisprudence were cross-referenced with similar motifs in Klimt's Beethoven Frieze, allowing the team to apply comparable golden hues. In a video, Emil Wallner speaks about the recolarization process. He used sources such as journalistic articles about the paintings. A Second Chance on the Ceiling For the first time, visitors can experience the Faculty Paintings as Klimt intended—displayed on a ceiling in their original scale and arrangement. Alongside their vertical presentations, the recolorized images are also projected onto the ceiling of the Lower Belvedere, offering a unique perspective on how they would have appeared in the Great Hall. This dual display bridges the gap between Klimt's unrealized vision and the possibilities afforded by modern technology. By the way: In a twist even Klimt might not have imagined, the once-rejected masterpiece Medicine now appears as a kind of monumental street art since the end of last year, adorning the façade of the Anna Spiegel Research Building at the MedUni Vienna General Hospital campus. Unveiled on November 13, 2024, this detailed replica offers the public an opportunity to engage with Klimt's work outside the museum context, merging fine art with the urban landscape. Reconstructing Art History: New Possibilities Through AI The use of AI in art conservation is not without debate, especially concerning authenticity and interpretation. Yet projects like the recolorization of Klimt's Faculty Paintings demonstrate the profound potential of technology to reconstruct and reinterpret lost cultural heritage. While the results are approximations rather than definitive restorations, they open doors to deeper engagement with historical artworks, offering both scholars and the public fresh insights. For those unable to visit Vienna, the online exhibition on Google Arts & Culture provides an immersive experience, offering insights into Klimt's techniques and the stories behind his masterpieces. The Pigment & Pixel exhibition stands as a testament to how science and technology can enrich our understanding of art. By merging meticulous conservation methods with pioneering AI applications, the Belvedere not only safeguards Klimt's legacy but also challenges traditional narratives, inviting viewers to reconsider the boundaries of art restoration. Image: Installation view "Gustav Klimt – Pigment & Pixel. Rediscovering Art Through Technology", Lower Belvedere. Photo: © Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna. |
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