Beyond the Surface – How paint conservation tells the identity of a building

Supported by

Partner 

It is common practice in architectural conservation to carry out scientific analysis of building materials, such as investigation of paint finishes, to make decisions for sustainable interventions. The Central Police Station Revitalisation Project was one of the first conservation projects in Hong Kong to include a comprehensive paint finish analysis for all historic buildings on site. Using this site and other examples in Hong Kong and the Mainland as case studies, this talk will demonstrate the importance of investigating original materials and techniques of building finishes in order to design compatible and sustainable conservation interventions with due considerations of all heritage values of the site.

*The event will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation from English to Cantonese available.

Tickets | HKD 50

Please register and pay on art-mate.net

Dr. Gesa Schwantes is a Conservator/Restorer specialising in the conservation of architectural surfaces, building materials and wall paintings. She graduated in 2006 from the Bern School of the Arts at the Bern University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland with a specialisation in Conservation and Restoration of Architectural Surfaces and Interior Decoration. Gesa came to Hong Kong in 2010 to join the Architectural Conservation Programmes (ACP) at The University of Hong Kong following her growing interest in conservation in Asia. She graduated with a MSc in Architectural Conservation in September 2011 and then founded the Architectural Conservation Laboratory (ACLab) in the Faculty of Architecture at The University of Hong Kong. In September 2017 Gesa earned her PhD in Architectural Conservation from the College of Architecture and Urban Planning CAUP at Tongji University, Shanghai.

Aside from her academic career, Gesa has over ten years of physical conservation experience of wall paintings, murals and decorated architectural surfaces at historic built heritage sites in Germany, Switzerland and the Mainland. Her work encompassed a wide range of surface materials including stone, lime plaster, clay plaster, lime paint, tempera paint and watercolour. During her professional career, she surveyed buildings and catalogued decoration and interior finishes, identified distressed regions, and delivered and carried out sustainable conservation and intervention strategies and treatments. Since 2012 Gesa runs a small private consultancy firm for the conservation of architectural surfaces in Hong Kong.

Each participant will get one Tai Kwun Conversations event sticker at admission. Upon presenting the event sticker, audience will enjoy the following offers at one of the restaurants in Tai Kwun.

Bar at Armoury
Buy 1 get 1 free for following drinks, at regular price only:

• House Red/White wine
• Singha Draught Beer
• Aperol Spritz

Terms & conditions

1. The offer is available upon showing specific event sticker.
2. This offer is only redeemable at the armoury bar.
3. This offer is only valid at regular price.
4. This offer is not valid in conjunction with other promotions, discounts or vouchers.
5. Bar at Armoury reserves the right to amend the term and conditions at any time, without prior notice.
6. Bar at Armoury reserves the right to make final decision in the case of any dispute.

Old Bailey
20% off on entire bill – applicable to A La Carte only

Terms & conditions

1. The offer is available upon showing the specific event sticker.
2. This offer is only redeemable at Old Bailey.
3. This offer is only valid at regular price.
4. This offer is not valid in conjunction with other promotions, discounts or vouchers.
5. Old Bailey reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions at any time, without prior notice.
6. Old Bailey reserves the right to make the final decision in the case of any dispute.