The first question was whether to restore, reconstruct, or leave the work as a fragment. And what does the artist, Urs Fischer, think? Alice Orthmann is investigating these questions concerning the preservation of Fischer’s work Glaskatzen – Mülleimer der Hoffnung (1999) in the context of her bachelor’s degree at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK) in Hildesheim. She is conducting this project during the summer semester 2018.

It was against this background that a preservation concept based on scientific studies and an interview with the artist was developed for Urs Fischer’s installation in the Nationalgalerie’s collection. The allusion to ruins and the fragility of glass were taken into consideration, as was the practical handling of the materials and techniques used. Several approaches reflecting research into the work’s materiality and genesis were presented for discussion.

On the basis of the research findings, contact was established through Urs Fischer’s studio and an interview with the artist was held on the topics of intention, handling, reproducibility and authenticity. From these discussions a restoration concept evolved that will be implemented at Hamburger Bahnhof in September 2018.