About me

Everything begins with trust and partnership

Yes, you read that right. Trust and partnership are the foundation of all our actions. This is especially true when it comes to the sensitive handling of your works of art, which are generally irreplaceable cultural heritage.

The basis is craftsmanship and artistic knowledge

Every work of art consists of the artist's intuition and intention, and its translation into a real, existing work of art. Consisting of a wide variety of materials, carefully arranged and designed by the artist, and processed according to the techniques of his era, the restorer must thoroughly grasp, understand, and master all of this in order to even begin and professionally carry out a qualified restoration.

The “art of the restorer” is to “preserve works of art”, not to “create new works of art”

For me, restoration always means, first and foremost, seeing the work of art you have entrusted to me through the eyes of the artist and understanding it – getting as close as possible to the creative idea of the painter or sculptor.
Only then does the "craft" part begin, with its sometimes very complex, multi-layered processes that require great care, experience, and attention. Hardly any two processes are alike.

This way, your artwork can be preserved and restored in the spirit of the artist, and not created as a “work of your own.” This is “My artwork“ It starts with your trust.

Exploring, preserving and, if necessary, restoring art and cultural assets from past times: these are the central tasks of a restorer.

Conservators must examine their object meticulously, documenting and conserving it. If it already shows signs of damage, it's up to them to repair it.
In their work, they try to counteract chemical and biological decay processes on the supporting materials – canvas or wood – without changing the affected object.
This requires fine tools and materials such as scalpels, spatulas and the finest brushes, along with paints, binders and solvents, as well as chemical substances.

The art of the restorer is therefore not to forge, nor to make the old appear NEW, but to recognize and analyze the true value, its authenticity and, above all, its original substance and to decide on the right restoration measures in order to ultimately pave the way for history.

Many works of art that have lost their identity due to inappropriate previous repairs require particularly precise diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. And these are the true tasks: to carefully restore originality and authenticity, i.e., the creative idea of the painter or sculptor.

Curiosity, a creative approach, a good feel for and knowledge of materials, networked thinking, patience, sensitivity, and structured thinking are just some of the qualities needed for success.

My profession is a passion for me. The phrase "a little" has been removed from my vocabulary. You should never skimp on time and materials, even if it doesn't always pay off. The joy of "immersing yourself" in the object is priceless. Conservators are researchers, scientists, artists, sometimes idealists and perhaps even perfectionists. They develop a passion, and some even an addiction, for touching quality.

Ludmila Henseler
Graduate restorer