A behaviour index for complex artworks: A conceptual tool for contemporary art conservation

This paper proposes a model that visualises the effect of decision making in the conservation and presentation of complex artworks: a behaviour index. It is a conceptual tool that is especially useful when managing unconventional artworks that are variable in nature. Inspired by the variable media approach, the concept of an artwork’s ‘behaviour’ is adopted to analyse an artwork’s successive manifestations over time. This reveals the impact of museum practice and the role of the people who conserve, install or perform the work. The idea is to implement the concept of a behaviour index as an interactive digital tool in museum collection management systems. This not only provides insight into an artwork’s biography, but also enforces accountability from those having to make decisions about the artwork’s appearance every time it is put on display.