Material and materiality are inherent to the conception, production, interpretation, and conservation of artifacts in all cultures and periods. The
materiality resulting from the effect produced by the properties of matter is
understood within changing reception environments and contexts, which are far
from fixed or definitive. These properties manifest through effects of textures,
surfaces, weights, spatial extension, formats, gestural traces... The concepts
of material and materiality refer to the fact that visual artifacts are composed
of materials and take into account all of the processes – technical, cultural,
and social – that underlie the material realization and perception of artistic
productions. They also lead to questions about economic, environmental,
ideological, and aesthetic issues related to the production, transformation, and
conservation of works.
It is in this spirit of openness that the theme chosen for the 36th CIHA Congress
fits. This engaged theme thus offers the opportunity for intercultural and
interdisciplinary dialogue on issues that promote a transversal perspective at
the intersection of approaches and methodologies. It opens up urgent questions
related to the most current environmental and geopolitical concerns: access
to resources, sustainability, conservation, museums and ecological transition,
dematerialization, destruction/reconstruction, war, and heritage...