Apologies for cross posting?..
SCIENTISTS SHOW MUSEUMS HOW HOLOGRAMS CAN SAVE ARTEFACTS Innovations in 3D imaging technology mean priceless artefacts can now be safely conserved while the public see exact replicas, identical in colour, size and every intricate detail, according to holography experts. The Royal Photographic Society Holographic Group is hosting a one day conference at De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester on the 19th September 2008 when world-renowned scientists in holography will highlight the recent developments in full colour techniques which make it a more exciting innovation for museums and galleries than ever before. Holography in the Modern Museum? will be a day-long conference with an accompanying exhibition of historic examples of holography?s use by museums over the years and state-of-the-art works by some of the speakers and two days of preceding practical workshops. The exhibition will also feature various uses of holography in museums including examples of reproduction and documentation of artefacts, gift shop products, and didactic displays. Jonathan Ross, whose Gallery 286 in London is home to one of the most important collections of hologram art works, some of which will be featured in the exhibition, said: ?Display holography is a tool that has been used by various museums around the world since the medium was first developed in the 1960s but recent developments in full colour techniques make it far more viable and attractive than ever. ?Many museum professionals have lost track of developments in holography; it has come a long way since their heyday in the 1980s, and since Russian scientists used it as a way to ?Take Art to the People? and the British Museum commissioned a holographic replica of ?Pete Bog, the Lindow Man. ?Those early holographic images were monochromatic and limited to a size of object that would fit onto a small vibration isolation table. Today it is possible to record full colour images so realistic it is hard to believe that the actual object is not there behind the glass and, using CGI techniques, to make scaled-down 3D replicas of objects of any size you wish,? said Mr Ross. Prof Martin Richardson, Chair of Modern Holography at De Montfort University, said: ?This conference explores 'leading edge' technology in the highly important scientific and technological field of three-dimensional imaging. ?Presentations from pioneers and leading experts in the field will include ways of using holograms to replace particularly vulnerable objects. Showing holograms instead of the originals will prove to be an important innovation in the conservation world where curators are constantly looking for new and exciting ways of displaying collections. ?Seven different countries are represented including Taiwan, USA and Europe making this a truly international conference, and I am very pleased The Royal Photographic Society has selected De Montfort University as its chosen venue for what promises to be a landmark occasion,? he said. At the conference, Professor Richardson will present Stopping Time: Harrison's 'H4' Hologram, based on holograms of timepieces created by John Harrison, fourth Royal Observatory timekeeper. More information about the conference can be found at the Royal Photographic Society Holographic Group website: http://www.holography.co.uk/RPS/events.html or by emailing jross at gallery286.com. Two one day workshops on applied holographics will be held in advance of the conference, at The Modern Holography Laboratory at DMU on 17 and 18 September. They will provide hands-on laboratory demonstrations, the opportunity to examine and handle holograms, and will explain the basic physical principles of holography, optical phenomena and optical equipment for the recording of holograms. Those attending the workshops will be able to record their own hologram and the sessions will also introduce and demonstrate a range of optical instruments and techniques in addition to holography including interferometry. As well as Professor Richardson, who is working on real-time holographic techniques and digital holography, lecturers on the workshops will include Professor Bill Fagan and author Graham Saxby. To register on the workshops contact Amanda Stuart, Department of Imaging & Communication design at DMU, on: Tel: +44 (0)116 257 7671, or by Email: astuart at dmu.ac.uk ENDS Prof. M. Richardson Chair Modern Holography Imaging & Communication Design faculty of art and design De Montfort University Portland Building The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH Tel: 0116 257 7671 (ex: 8678) www.martin-richardson.com please consider the environment before printing this email Professor Stephen Brown Director, Knowledge Media Design http://kmd.dmu.ac.uk tel: 0116 257 7173 mob: 07989 948230
