The Ethics Of Dust: Trajan's Column by Jorge Otero-Pailos
New York-based artist and architectural preservationist Jorge Otero-Pailos's installation 'The Ethics of Dust: Trajan's Column' interacted with the largest object in the Museum.
Using conservation latex, Otero-Pailos cleaned the hollow inside of the cast of Trajan's Column, removing dust and dirt accumulated over decades in this usually unseen space. The result was a giant latex 'cast of a cast' that was exhibited adjacent to the original, revealing the passage of time, and highlighting the Museum's duty of care to the public collection.
This installation took place 1 April – 19 July 2015.
Film by Alex Emslie.
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The Ethics Of Dust: Trajan's Column, Jorge Otero-Pailos, 2015. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
