SCRATCHING THE SURFACE PROJECT (2017)Investigation and Planning of a Concept for Maintenance of a Street Art Mural by VHILS at the Embassy of Portugal, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Street art is a contemporary art form that can be found worldwide. However, conserving this art remains a topic of ongoing debate, as it raises important questions about balancing artistic value with the need to protect public spaces and property. This thesis investigates the ‘Scratching the Surface Project’ street art mural (2017) by VHILS at the Embassy of Portugal, Bangkok, by exploring the walls’ structure and materials, identifying factors of deterioration and damage, and collecting information on the artwork to create a suitable preservation concept and maintenance guideline. Since the artwork is located in an outdoor environment without any cover, the analysis indicates that the primary deterioration factor for this art is the environmental impact. Furthermore, there is an investigation in the direction of the artist’s opinion to find a way to appropriately intervene with this artwork and follow the artist’s intention.

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