The dynamic character and fluid form of many contemporary artworks challenges museums to think beyond their usual framework to fulfil their responsibility as a collection management institution. Yet, the digital infrastructure that should support this in museums, is not adequately equipped for such artworks, which may be variable or interactive, no longer mere objects, but including practices.

By visualising a work's past–and its prospective life-stages–the DIAL aims to make museum professionals more aware of the impact on the artwork as a result of their own actions. By doing so, the tool stimulates the investigative mind of the user. It integrates a reflexive approach into the collection management system, as it reveals the guiding factor in an artwork’s life–often the professionals themselves. 

Principal Investigator

• Dr. Sanneke Stigter

Private partner

• Wiel's Simple Solutions

Public partner

• Kröller-Müller Museum

Research team

• Frans Elbertsen
• Marjon Gemmeke
• Jannet de Goede
• Jip Hinten
• Susanne Kensche
• Bas Mühren
• Marcel van der Sande
• Wiel Seuskens

Resulting publications

• Towards Process-Based Research in Conservation (S. Stigter, 2019)
• Franz West, Clamp as case study for DIAL (F. Elbertsen & S. Stigter, 2018)
• Carl Andre, Copper inside-outside piece as case study for DIAL (J. Hinten, 2018)
• Aan de knoppen van een kunstwerk (S. Stigter, 2018)
• Pierre Huyghe, La Saison des Fêtes as case study for DIAL (S. Stigter, 2018)
• Tom Claassen, Untitled (Cars) as case study for DIAL (S. Stigter, 2018)
• A behaviour index for complex artworks (S. Stigter, 2017)

More information

• News article (June 2017): KIEM project granted within the NWO Creative Industry research programme
• Project news on the Kröller-Müller Museum

Contact

This project has been made possible with a NWO KIEM grant within the Creative Industry programme.