Louisa Dawson’s Itinerary/Itinerant (2004), Sydney University Union

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Itinerary/Itinerant (2004) by Louisa Dawson is a sculpture composed of 20 mixed-manufacture suitcases stacked in a spiral and reinforced by a central steel armature. It is located at the University of Sydney Union in Camperdown, where it is suspended from the ceiling of the Manning House dining area. O’Sullivan Conservation was engaged to conduct an annual conservation clean and record condition notes.

Upon arrival at the site, O’Sullivan Conservation laid down builders’ film while the sculpture was lowered to ground level, and the area was cordoned off before conservation work commenced. The sculpture was cleaned in two stages. The first stage involved brush vacuuming from the top down, and the second was a wet clean with deionized water and cotton cloths. A mild solution of non-ionic, pH neutral surfactant was used on areas that required a deeper clean. The surface of the sculpture was buffed with clean microfibre cloths before being returned to its display position.

Louisa Dawson specialising in recontextualising everyday objects and has pieces displayed around the world http://www.louisadawson.com/.