KBSU hosts a lecture from the Union of Restorers of Russia

Union of Restorers of Russia and College of Architecture, Design and Reengineering No. 26 (26KADR) in Moscow in the framework of cooperation with the College of Design of Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after. From March 25 to 29, Kh.M. Berbekov conducts a course of lectures on restoration with elements of practice for students of the KBSU College of Culture in the direction of “Restoration.”

Daria Shcherbakova, a teacher at the 26 KADR college and a member of the Union of Restorers of Russia, told how classes on the restoration of artistic paintings are conducted:

“Yesterday we had an introductory theoretical lecture, we met the guys, tested their level of conceptual knowledge in general about restoration. We talked about physical and chemical pre-restoration studies and scientific restoration documentation, gave them some document templates and showed them how to conduct them.
From today we started practical classes. The first thing we started with was preparing special tools, in particular, making a fluoroplastic spatula — indispensable for restoration artists. It can be safely used in contact with adhesives, without fear that the canvas or pieces of the paint layer will remain on the surface of the tool.

Then they began to study the basics of restoring the integrity of the canvases, namely joining breakthroughs using the butt method using 5% PVF. Now we are practicing. We made breaks, tears, and punctures of varying complexity on the canvas fabric, and the guys will learn how to work with them in a given situation.”

The weekly lecture program also includes master classes on restoring the pictorial structure of a damaged canvas. KBSU students will learn how to do tinting using various techniques, work with soil and with different textures of painting (smooth, with a pronounced texture). The guys will learn how all this can be restored in accordance with restoration standards.

At the same time, master classes on working with wood are being held by Boch Voronin, a 4th-year student at the 25 KADR college, winner of the X National Championship “Young Professionals” (WorldSkills Russia) in the “Restoration of Furniture Works” competency.

“I came to KBSU to show students the basic techniques of furniture restoration, since there is no such direction at KBSU, but it is very interesting, covers many areas of application and opens up great opportunities for students for further work,”
– said the lecture hall teacher.

Bocha Voronin’s arsenal includes master classes on applying paint and varnish coatings, namely stain and varnish, and making inserts into solid wood.

Muscovites shared their impressions of the students of the KBSU College of Design.

“The guys are very good, hungry for knowledge, unspoiled, attentive. They were inquisitive, they asked a lot of questions during the lecture, they themselves asked to give them information in which they felt that they had gaps. So it’s a pleasure to work with the guys,”
– this is what Daria Shcherbakova responded.

The work of a restoration artist is painstaking, requiring thoroughness, attentiveness, and perseverance. And all these qualities are present in the students of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University.

“Today we learned a lot of new and interesting things. Now let’s stitch the canvas. We were shown several views. For example, if there are small holes left after stitching, we take a thread, turn it into cotton wool and slowly, first moistening it in alcohol, then in glue, carefully insert it into the hole. Then, using a spatula that we made ourselves, we press it in carefully so that the grafting is not visible. Thanks to the teachers from Moscow for the accessible presentation of the material,”
– said KBSU CD student Alina Etueva.

Based on the results of the lecture from the Union of Restorers of Russia, teachers will grade its participants, including for performing practical work. Please note that at the end of the semester a differentiated credit is provided within the professional module “Restoration, Conservation and Museum Storage”.