The exhibition prepared by the Department for Restoration of the University of Ljubljana, Academy of Fine Arts and Design (UL ALUO) and the Department for Conservation-Restoration of the Museum of Modern Art and Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (MG+MSUM) entitled Marij Pregelj Up Close is the final part of a several-year-long project, the aim of which was to investigate the methods of creating and conserving-restoring the works of art of this great Slovenian painter. The investigations were based on both scientific research and empirical tests. The scope of the work required for the preparation of a large retrospective exhibition exceeded the capabilities of individual institutions; therefore, already in 2014/15, the Department for Conservation-Restoration of MG+MSUM was joined by ALUO's Department for Restoration, contributing human resources and financial support for the set goals within the projects Taking a Creative Path towards Practical Knowledge (PKPZ) and within its regular programmes, in cooperation with the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Restoration Centre of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia and the National Gallery in Ljubljana. These projects were co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and European Union, through the European Social Fund. The exhibition, including studies of details, a display of conserved- restored paintings by Marij Pregelj, descriptive, graphic and photographic presentations of our work and a video projection, shows the activities in the conservation-restoration and science studios of the above institutions in previous years. With the opening of the exhibition, we start the 11th Conservation-Restoration Transversal, integrating the Slovenian events presenting the creation, conservation and restoration of our cultural heritage with all the other events carried out within the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.
