The Andreas Pittas Art Characterisation Laboratories (APAC Labs) of the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Centre (STARC) at The Cyprus Institute (CyI) aim at developing research in art history, archaeology and cultural heritage with the use of innovative scientific and technological applications and methods.

The methodology of APAC Labs is based on broad and multiscale diagnostic approaches that integrate physiochemical methods and digital 2D/3D visualisation and imaging technologies. The above methods provide information on the state of conservation, materials, techniques and interventions that have occurred over the years to the object, work of art or monument in question.

On the occasion of the International Museum Day, the A. G. Leventis Gallery in collaboration with APAC Labs will present the great potential of new technologies in the study and analysis of works of art. In particular, innovative methods of 2D and 3D documentation, analysis, processing and visualisation of works of art and cultural heritage objects from the collections of the gallery, will be presented.

These methods and the related specialised equipment are used by APAC Labs to record and analyse the materials and techniques of works of art and objects. For the most part, said specialised tools are based on technological applications exploiting a multi-scale and multi-resolution approach for the imaging and visualisation of the works and objects under study.

Multi-spectral imaging is an emerging technology that has the potential to revolutionize various fields, including remote sensing, medical imaging, environmental monitoring, and last but not least cultural heritage. This technology involves capturing and analyzing images in multiple spectral bands, thus allowing the extraction of valuable information and insights, beyond the capacity of traditional imaging methods, and in most cases revealing more than the eye meets.

Also, Multi-light Photometric Imaging known as Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), involves the use of specialized cameras and lighting techniques to capture high-resolution interactive 2D+ images of cultural artifacts. This technology allows for the capture of images with greater detail and accuracy than traditional photography methods, enabling the identification of even the smallest details on the surfaces of cultural artifacts and paintings. APAC Lab have extensively used RTI to analyze paintings, thus providing new insights into the techniques and styles of old masters, like El Greco and Titian and revealing and documenting inscriptions.

The 3D documentation and analysis of artefacts will be displayed at the Gallery with the use of a structured-light 3D scanner. The structured-light 3D scanner is a scanning device for measuring the three-dimensional shape of an object using projected light patterns and a camera system. The light source from the scanner head projects a series of geometric patterns onto the object of interest and in parallel uses a photography camera system to capture them. When light projects onto the object's surface, the camera maps data related to the location of each detail of the documented object. Acquired data are captured in a point cloud which in effect helps to create the object’s 3D replica.

Visitors of the A. G. Leventis Gallery, during the International Museum Day on the 19th of May, will have the opportunity to learn more about the abovementioned methods and their application on works of art from the Gallery’s collections. Also, the programme prepared by the Gallery and APAC Labs, includes meeting the expert researchers of the Cyprus Institute’s (CyI) laboratories who will share their knowledge and experiences.

Date:
Saturday/ 18.05 2024
Time:
10:30-14:00

For all ages

Free Entrance