Nayia Yiakoumaki and Renata Peters

In conversation with the Partial Presence exhibition curators, Nayia Yiakoumaki, Curator: Archive Gallery at Whitechapel Gallery and Renata Peters, lecturer in Conservation of Archaeological Artefacts at UCL explores how curatorial practices engage with archives and collections to reactivate stored and archived artworks. Taking themes in the show as a starting point, they will discuss the impact archival practices, preservation and documentation process have on shaping the legacy of an artwork.

Nayia Yiakoumaki is a freelance curator, artist and lecturer. Since 2005 she has held the post of Curator, Archive Gallery at Whitechapel Gallery, London. In 2009 she completed a PhD entitled Curating Archives, Archiving Curating at Goldsmiths College, London. She has been co-curator of FeedBack project and co-editor of FeedBack periodical, an ongoing publication concerned with contemporary curating since 2001. Recently curated exhibitions include: Ideals and Realities, Free Word Centre, London (2012); Aspen Magazine: 1965-1971, Whitechapel Gallery, London (2011/12); and Supporting Artists: ACME's first decade, Whitechapel Gallery, London (2013/14).

Renata Peters is Lecturer in Conservation and Co-ordinator of the MA Principles of Conservation at UCL Institute of Archaeology. She leads Conservation and Development, a research network focused on conservation's impact in social and political arenas. She is also coordinator of the ICOM-CC Ethnographic Collections Working Group, editor in chief of the Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies (JCMS), and runs the UCL Conversations on Conservation of Cultural Heritage blog with students and colleagues from various institutions.