German-Latvian Conservation project in Kuldiga

Students from the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration at HAWK in Hildesheim and students from the Latvian Art Academy Riga / Latvijas Mākslas akadēmija as well as from the Riga Building College / Rīgas Būvniecības koledža met for a joint, restoration project in Kuldiga, Latvia.

The project was generously funded by the Böckler-Mare-Balticum-Stiftung.

Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Michael von der Goltz, Prof. Renate Kühnen and M.A. Zane Kēlere from the Art Academy Riga, eight German and six Latvian students worked together on the Baroque altarpiece of the St. Trinity Church in Kuldiga.

The project was accompanied by Dace Čoldere as a representative of the Latvian National Heritage Board / Nacionālā kultūras mantojuma pārvalde and Eva Jordan-Fahrbach, textile conservator and initiator of the German-Latvian collaboration.

The exchange of the teachers was supported organizationally by the International Office of HAWK and funded by the EU's Erasmus+ program.

During a warm welcome in Riga, the Cathedrals Curator Ronalds Lūsis explained to the students the Architectural History and current conservation projects. This was followed by a visit at the new restoration department at the Latvian Art Academy / Latvijas Mākslas akadēmija and the restoration department at the Riga Building College / Rīgas Būvniecības koledža.

Furthermore, the students had the opportunity to look behind the scenes at the anatomical collection of the Stradiņš University Riga / Rīgas Stradiņa Universitāte before continuing their journey to the main destination, Kuldiga.

At the beginning of the 21st century, a severe insect infestation of the wooden interior was discovered and in 2009 the entire church was fumigated for pest control. However, large parts were already heavily damaged. The stability of the side altars, the pulpit and the organ prospect were significantly affected, and the polychromy was flaking in many areas.

In 2020, further damage occured when the aureole of the left side altar fell down and broke into pieces. Fortunately, the parts were saved by Zane Kēlere. In her condition survey from 2023, the state of the broken aureole as well as the coat of arms of the organ prospect were evaluated particularly critical, which is why these parts were selected for the student project.

The conservation work, interrupted since the COVID-19 pandemic, was resumed in 2024 thanks to the support of the Böckler-Mare-Balticum Foundation.

Survey of the objects

After setting up a temporary workshop in the parish house, the condition assessment of the objects could begin to develop a conservation concept. The focus was on the treatment of the severe damaged parts.

The task was to prevent further loss, i.e., to secure the endangered polychromy and to consolidate the structure of the wood. The students were able to test different materials and tools and to discuss various working methods and techniques.

After preliminary tests, a methyl cellulose-gel with a high ethanol content was selected for consolidating the paint layer because it does not affect the moisture-sensitive polychromy and it has also a good aging stability. For the structural consolidation of the wood, a dissolved acrylic resin was used, which was slowly introduced into the insect holes.

The conservation of the polychromy and wood of the broken aureole was completed to a large extent within the 14 days by the German-Latvian working groups. Additionally, the coat of arms of the organ prospect was consolidated and cleaned. However, further working steps, such as assembling and glueing the pieces of the aureole together, are still pending.

Latvian TV feature

HAWK
Jasmine Brenner, Mathilda Holschneider, Greta Kahlmann, Linus Meidinger, Steffen Patt, Carina Pfänder, Fenja Rathgeb, Aileen Schregel

Latvian Art Academy Riga
Valērija Petrova, Laura Vucena, Rēzija Zegnere

Riga Building College
Leva Lauža, Ance Murāne, Marta Upīte