Art Under Attack

The painting in the centre has been severely attacked by fungus. The little rectangle in the middle, marked with a pen, appears in the photo...

The painting in the centre has been severely attacked by fungus. The little rectangle in the middle, marked with a pen, appears in the photograph below after being enlarged. It is astonishing to realise that fungus, so destructive to works of art, can actually look so delicate and lacy. Fungus changes its appearance depending on its variety and where it manifests itself. The one most common one appears like small black dots to the naked eye but has a conical shape when magnified. It can become thick and crusty if the work of art, or wall, is not treated. The Ajanta cave paintings seem to be covered extensively with this black fungus, the aspergillus niger. The destruction of these exquisite and ancient paintings almost seems inevitable unless serious efforts are not made to stop the fungi invasion.

Another kind of fungus shows itself as a sprinkled yellow ochre powder under magnification or as a powdery pale peach jagged line. Yet another can be dull green with the pattern of freshly mowed grass, or appear fragile like a soft silken ball in white or lemon. This is the way they look when magnified but with normal vision they seem to be patches of scattered colour on painted surfaces.

Oil paintings can develop dull patches on otherwise glistening surfaces when fungus attacks the nutrients that it finds in the oil, leaving those areas matt. In a similar fashion it goes for the size that is used to make paper or the natural glues that are the adhesives in water based paints. Fungi also love the cellulose of the canvas cloth and the cellulose that it finds in the stretcher or the wooden frame on which a canvas is stretched. The reverse side of a canvas painting, the stretcher and the plyboard that is used behind paintings of different kinds generally pick up the fungus from damp walls as these are the parts of a painting that are in close proximity to the wall. The fungus can then travel inwards if it finds the proper feeding ground. A damp and moist room generally allows the fungus to attack from the front. Fungus or mildew is insidious and sly, making its way on to walls and painting when no one is looking. The fungus spores that are always present around us wait for an environment that is conducive to their growth and development. They require a temperature above 30 degrees centigrade and a relative humidity above 70 per cent to proliferate. Those who live near the sea have to watch out for their art works. Repairs and water seepage in the house, walls that are common with bathrooms and gardens are all occasions for fungus to get active. Art works with fungus have to be professionally treated but owners can take a few precautions and be careful of humidity. It is necessary to be vigilant or else risk the deterioration of a work of art.