Publications

May 17-21, 2021 (Forthcoming)

Poster Presenter at: ICOM-CC Beijing: Transcending Boundaries: Integrated Approaches to Conservation (forthcoming)

Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures Working Group, Beijing, China

The research presented at this conference is derived from research conducted as part of my MA dissertation at University College London (UCL) titled ‘Honoring the Sacred: Ethical Conservation Practice Concerning the Treatment of Buddhist Sacred Objects’.
Abstract:
- Sacredness is considered an immutable characteristic of an object. These objects warrant carefully-mediated ethical and behavioral consideration when conserving, handling, or displaying. This dissertation exposes the shortcomings of the present ethical framework in conservation (codes of ethics) in guiding proper ethical and behavioral considerations when dealing with sacred Tibetan Buddhist statues. The path toward an ethical, mutually-negotiated, and holistic result lies in taking a values-led, people-centered approach, coupled with an openness to integrating modes of thinking specific to the Buddhist faith community into modern conservation practice.

July 11, 2020

Conservation Blog Post: [Re:]Entanglements - Re-engaging with Colonial Archives in Postcolonial Times

This blog post publication, done in conjunction with Dr. Paul Basu, Professor of Anthropology at University of London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is entitled ‘Conservation Notes: [Re:]Connecting Across Time: Human Hands and the Conservator’s Eye’. This post focuses on the preliminary [Re:]examination and conservation of a painted wooden Ngene alusi shrine figure, created by Igbo-speaking peoples of Southern Nigeria and collected from Awgbu, Nigeria by British Anthropologist, Northcote Whitridge Thomas, in his 1910-1911 anthropological expedition.