The life of a conceptual artwork can incur many variations or alterations, from creation to each installation, cycles of storage and exhibition, travel, acquisition and beyond. When an institution acquires and exhibits a conceptual work, they take on the obligation to display the work as faithfully as possible. Research on Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Last Breath ​(2012), revealed challenges specific to this work, and also inspires a broader discussion on authenticity and installation art. This presentation will explore the ethical limits of preserving authenticity in the exhibition of conceptual art and considerations of display. Lia Kramer will present her research followed by a conversation with Brian Castriota, Chrissie Iles, Julie Reiss, and Glenn Wharton to discuss the broader topic of preserving authenticity and what it means for conceptual art.

Panelists

Brian Castriota
Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN Research Fellow and Ph.D. Candidate, History of Art, University of Glasgow

Chrissie Iles
Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art

Julie Reiss
Associate Professor and Program Director, Modern and Contemporary Art and the Market, Christie’s Education New York

Glenn Wharton
Clinical Professor, Museum Studies, NYU