METHYLCELLULOSE – FOAM – WORKSHOP

(see for English text below)

Methylcellulose (mc) is niet meer weg te denken uit de restauratiepraktijk. Het heeft uitstekende verouderingseigenschappen, sterke cohesie en is breed inzetbaar. Maar wist je dat je het ook kunt opschuimen? Geschuimde mc is superlicht en ideaal om te gebruiken als consolidatiemiddel voor hedendaagse kunstwerken gemaakt van schuim, of om liftende, stijve verflagen mee te stabiliseren.

Hoe schuim je mc op, en wat kun je ermee – vloeibaar én gedroogd? Dat leer je in deze workshop. Theorie, veel praktijk, en volop ruimte om te experimenteren en kennis uit te wisselen. Je maakt zelf mc-schuim, ontdekt de eigenschappen en past het toe. 

De workshop wordt gegeven door Alina Schmid en Stefanie Bründler, restauratoren hedendaagse kunst (Zwitserland), op basis van onderzoek sinds 2012* aan de Bern University of the Arts. Eerder gegeven in Bern, Berlijn, Wenen en Parijs.

Praktische informatie

Voertaal: Engels
Locatie: Restauratie-atelier, Heining 163, 1047 AE Amsterdam
Kosten:   €100 -, (leden)
Datum: 6 november 2026https://maps.app.goo.gl/krWv1Agp1iLpLf5j7
Aanmelden: meld je aan voor 20 oktober via e-mail op modernekunst@restauratoren.nl. Ben je geen lid van Restauratoren Nederland? Neem contact op met ons via email voor de mogelijkheden.

Tweedaagse workshop in het voorjaar 2027

In het voorjaar 2027 organiseren we samen met het Kröller-Müller Museum een tweedaagse workshop. Met een extra workshopdag creëren we meer ruimte voor verdieping, experiment en praktijkoefeningen. De eendaagse workshop biedt echter ook op zichzelf een compleet en waardevol programma.

METHYLCELLULOSE – FOAM – WORKSHOP 

Methylcellulose (mc) is increasingly being used due to its excellent aging behavior and cohesion properties, its versatile applications, and numerous positive adhesion results. Foamed MC offers new, innovative, and sustainable possibilities for practical restoration and can be used, for example, as a very lightweight material for underfilling lifted, stiff paint layers or for stabilizing and structurally reinforcing contemporary foamed materials. 

But how can this material be foamed? And what are further uses for both liquid and dried mc foam?

In the repeatedly held and continuously actualized mc foam workshop, the current state of production methods, material properties and application possibilities of methylcellulose foams for the conservation and restoration of art and cultural heritage is taught both theoretically and practically. There is ample time for practical implementation, evaluation, and professional exchange. The goal is for participants to become familiar with the different production methods and the resulting individual properties of MC foams, to independently produce them, and to apply them effectively. At the same time, the experiences and needs shared by the participantsa will be incorporated into ongoing research, thereby contributing to the further development of this innovative restoration technique.

The workshop is organized and conducted by Alina Schmid and Stefanie Bründler, contemporary art conservators in Switzerland. The knowledge conveyed is based on outcomes* that have been developed since 2012 in various collaborations at and around the Bern University of the Arts by the following additional individuals: Sophie Bunz, Carla Helmrich, Johanna Krailing, Magdalena Ritler und Karolina Soppa. 
So far, the workshop has been offered at the following locations: Bern University of the Arts (2023 and 2024), Roeck Restaurierung in Berlin (2024), Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (2025), and Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris (2025). 

Practical info

Date: 6 November 2026
Language: English
Costs: €100 (members)
Registration: Register before 20 October via email at modernekunst@restauratoren.nl. If you are not a member of Restauratoren Nederland, please contact us via email regarding the possibilities.

*List of previous publications on MC foams in conservation and restoration from the Bern research team:

• Bründler, S., K. Mürer, and S. Weber. 2019. Conservation and restoration of “Falsche Götzen” [“False Idols”] by Fischli/Weiss. Kunsthaus Zürich, CH. www.kunsthaus.ch/en/sammlung/restaurierung/fischli-weiss/ [6.3.2026] 
• Soppa, K., M. Ritler, and N.C. Scherrer. 2022. Adhesive Foams – A First Insight. 10.13140/RG.2.2.25842.17601 
• Bründler, S., S. Bunz, M. Ritler, N.C. Scherrer, and K. Soppa. 2023. Dry methylcellulose foams: Investigation of simple foaming and drying methods for applications in the field of conservation and restoration. Paper in: ICOM-CC 20th Triennial Conference, Valencia, Spain. 
• Ritler, M., A. Eysler, K. Soppa, and N.C. Scherrer. 2023. Liquid methylcellulose foam as an adhesive-filler for lifted stiff paint flakes: The case study of La Salle des Cariatides au Louvre. Poster in: 20th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference in Valencia, Spain. 10.13140/ RG.2.2.33019.28965 
• Bründler, S., S. Bunz, M. Ritler, and K. Soppa. 2023. Methylcellulose Foams: Three Foaming and Drying Methods and Possible Applications in Conservation-Restoration. Poster in: Future Talks 023 - Materials Matter, Cold and Current Casesin the Conservation of the Modern, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich,Germany. 
• Schmid, A., K. Soppa, and E. Nidda. 2023. Stabilization of rigid non-polar flakes of paint layer with liquid adhesive foam: Adhesion of methylcellulose A4M- versus https://maps.app.goo.gl/krWv1Agp1iLpLf5j7Plextol D498-foam. 10.13140/RG.2.2.12743.88481.