PVC Artwork At V&A In Danger!

By martinvale, Jun 5 2015 01:34PM Whether they’re made from Darvic or Cobex PVC plastic or otherwise, we here at Sallu Plastics aren’t sure, but we are intrigued to hear that some of the artwork at the Victoria & Albert (V&A) in London is in danger of decaying. According to a Daily Mail news report, a PVC minidress has become so sticky that it’s now necessary to store it behind a pane of glass, while a 1969 inflatable chair has gone rigid. The V&A is now working alongside University College London and Imperial College to come up with ways to help protect and save these priceless works of art, many of which have been made from materials such as polyurethane and polyester. Some of the plastics have apparently become too delicate for them to even be exposed to light or cleaning with water. “It’s something that museums all over the world are trying to find a solution to. We’re doing a lot of work collectively to try and find answers. Plastics are such a relatively modern material in terms of mankind, we’re on that learning curve,” head conservator at the V&A Sandra Smith remarked. Plastic has often been used by artists to create their pieces. Sayaka Ganz, for example, creates truly beautiful sculptures out of old plastic utensils, cutlery, sunglasses and baskets. A lot of her materials are found in dustbins or in charity shops, while she also takes donations from friends and relatives. It’s certainly amazing what plastic can be used for, especially when the materials in question are only destined for landfill.