The Treatment of a Large Painted Outdoor Sculpture: Kiosque l’évidé (1970) 1984, by Jean Dubuffet

Abstract

ABSTRACT The conservation of Kiosque l’évidé, a painted outdoor fiberglass-reinforced phenoxy resin sculpture by Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985), involved a number of unusual challenges that necessitated the development of novel treatment protocols. Remedying the sculpture's severely compromised physical condition demanded the complete removal of its painted surface and innovative planning for the precise replication of its paint scheme and pattern. The sculpture's large size and layered material composition presented challenges; moreover, the technical data received from the artist's foundation posed ethical questions about the definition of original materials, color, and appearance, forcing us to search for alternate sources of reliable information, which included analysis of the sculpture's materials. This article describes the broad range of issues we faced during a major conservation treatment, the irregular path that such a complex effort invariably took, and the perseverance and decision-making processes required to achieve a successful outcome. We detail three main solutions: a custom dolly system to safely and easily transport and handle the oversized sculpture; a method to photograph and accurately project the original paint scheme so that we could replicate the paint pattern; and challenges in sourcing paint products that provided an unusual and narrow range of optical and working properties.