Kyllönen-Kunnas Päivi CV / Aalto Research 

TAGS  Art Research, Contemporary Art Conservation, Conservation Theory and Philosophy, Visual Heritage Research 

Background

2007 MA on History of Art; Thesis on Contemporary Art Conservation and Material Technical Art History, with studies on History of Contemporary Art, Conservation of Art, Literature, and History of Ideas and Sciences. 24.5.2007. Jyväskylä University, Jyväskylä.

2004 Conservator, B.A. Thesis on plastics installation art. 11.3.2004. EVTEK Institute, Conservation Department, Vantaa. 

1994 Paintings Conservator, Vocational Diploma. 2.3.1994. Vantaan käsi- ja taideteollisuusoppilaitos, Vantaa.  

Kyllönen-Kunnas CV short 2025

2025 Doctoral Researcher / Currently ongoing dissertation research fixed-term employment, Aalto University.

Leave from active art conservation in Oulu Art Museum.

2024 Currently ongoing dissertation research, Doctor of Art / väitöskirjatutkija

Department of Art and Media, School of Arts, Design and Achitecture, Aalto University

Contemporary Art

Studies 36/40, organized 4/2024. Dissertation research on pre-examination.

Thesis Research 

Kyllönen-Kunnas' thesis research is a monograph. The thesis brings forward the questions of modern materials, to build up and experience the making when you are enacted to act as a art conservator of the contemporary works of art, the items of coming to be heritage objects. 

One of the task of the research questions is materiality in contemporary art conservation, which is something else than in classical paintings conservation. The existence of the object with transformation to three-dimensional tetric prospect on contemporary art and art installation with complex material technology forms the unique perception of the work of art to dialogue with the visual artist and challenges the conservator-researcher, with the use of right-mind-developed, newly learned details. This action, with good intentions, turn conservation of the technologyborn work of art to safe target into slight transformation. 

The idea of the research is to approach the primary sources with contemporary and historical impressions limited measures, and on themes important to the theory of the discipline of art conservation. Thesis approaches theoretical questions and challenge to evaluate the early 20th century and 21th century mechanisms of the thought and the theory in conservation, in contemporary means and within prospects.

The aim is to place the conservation of art and art installations to art research practice to illustrate the new traditions. The research discusses both the practicality of the profession and permissive ideological variation of the research inside the contemporary theory of conservation-restoration of art. 

In the research, the embodied, experienced knowledge of the artist, and the artist's vision inspected by the art conservator, places the work of art in tradition of the contemporary art and in tradition of contemporary conservation of heritage art objects. This differs from the treat of other heritage objects in conservation. Including material knowledge on technology of composites; plaster of paris, UPR plastics and fiber materials, the thesis focuses on the unique outcomes, experiences and interpretation of the artist's creative work. 

See: Independent (not treated as part of the thesis), peer-reviewed and published articles on elements on contemporary art conservation on the theme:

2009 Article based on MA thesis on artists and plastic art,

2012 Case study research and conservation process on project management and decision making in public art,

2012 Process management practice in conservation of public art in society politics challenges, and

2013, published 2014 Case study research and conservation process in sight of material technical and artistic significances approaches. With co-writer PhD, Chemist Ulla Knuutinen. 

Kyllönen-Kunnas list of publications 2025

SEE articles, articles in process, seminar papers, posters and activities in Aalto Research  Kyllönen-Kunnas Päivi (English). 

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