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Multifunctional Encoding System for Assessment of Movable Cultural Heritage (MultiEncode)
Date: 25 February 2009
Place: London, UK
On Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at Tate Modern, the results of the EU-funded MultiEncode project will be presented to a wide audience, including conservation scientists, conservators, and other museum professionals. The MultiEncode instrument comprises three complementary detection systems, all of which use a common laser source, share optical components, and are operated using a single software package: photorefractive dynamic holography, developed by Centre Spatial de Liege (CSL); digital speckle holographic interferometry, developed by Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL-FORTH); and shearography, developed by Institut fur Technische Optik (ITO). The remaining members of the MultiEncode consortium are Optrion s.a., who has been responsible for prototype development, and two museum end-users, the National Gallery of Athens and Tate.
The optical methods employed by MultiEncode allow conservators to identify defects and characteristic features-cracks, delaminations, and voids-in works of art. Taken together, these three techniques provide an object's "defect signature", which can then be used to verify its authenticity in cases of fraud or theft. In addition, by monitoring changes in the holograms and/or shearograms of objects as a function of time, Tate hopes to glean information regarding deterioration as a result of handling and transport. The response of objects to temperature and/or relative humidity changes can also be tracked in this manner.
The meeting will consist of two sessions. In the morning session, developers from each partner institution will discuss the scientific basis of the three detection systems employed and their potential applications in the museum environment. In the afternoon session, the instrument prototype will be demonstrated using a range of paintings. Registration is free and lunch will be provided. If you wish to attend, please contact Nicola Heald nicola.heald(at)tate.org.uk by 18 February, 2009 to provide us with a contact email address and confirmation of attendance. The Programme and any further details will be emailed closer to the event.
The MultiEncode project has been funded by the European Commission 6th Framework Programme. For more information, please visit the project website at http://www.iesl.forth.gr/projects/multiencode/index.html
For more information regarding Tate's role in the project, please visit http://www.tate.org.uk/research/tateresearch/majorprojects/multiencode.htm
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