Acrylic Painted Contemporary and Modern Cleaning Methods in The Conservation and Restoration of The Paintings

Abstract Within the scope of the study, the artist Berna Erkün's acrylic painting titled “Route-Abstract Landscape” made in 2015 was wet surface cleaned using the current computer software Modular Cleaning Program. In this context, it was tried to underline the contemporary, modern art period that the painting is associated with and the technique and different type of acrylic paint used by the artist. At the same point, new perspectives and methods about surface cleaning, which is an important factor in painting conservation and repair practices, were investigated in the specific case of acrylic paint. As a result of the research, the wet surface cleaning method was preferred for the painting in question, and this cleaning method was applied in 8 different areas determined on the surface of the painting. The effect of the preferred wet surface cleaning on the acrylic painting was examined comparatively with laboratory analyzes before and after. laboratory analyzes and visual examinations applied to the acrylic painting. These examinations included pH testing, HPLC, SEM-EDX, analysis by color measurement and visual/optical examinations with visible light, raking light and back-illumination, ultraviolet (UV) light, infrared (IR) light and light microscopy. The aim here is to determine the conditions that occur or may occur before and after the application. The modular cleaning program, which is one of the contemporary methods in the field of painting conservation and restoration, was used for the prescription to be prepared for wet surface cleaning with the analysis and information made specifically for the work in question. As a result, the comparison of all the data, before and after, allowed a general conclusion to be drawn in concrete terms. Key words: acrylic painting, surface cleaning, restoration, conservation, esael painting