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Why are many wood sculptures kept indoors?
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Sculpture
Visitors viewing A Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby, a sugar-coated polystyrene sculpture by Kara Walker, 2014, part of a temporary installation at the former Domino Sugar Refinery in Brooklyn, New York.
Wood sculptures are kept indoors primarily to protect them from environmental factors that cause irreversible structural damage. Because wood is a porous, hygroscopic material, it constantly exchanges moisture with its surroundings. Fluctuations in humidity cause the wood to swell or shrink, which induces significant stress, leading to warping, splitting, or cracking.12
Keeping sculptures in a stable, controlled indoor environment helps prevent these issues, as well as the following risks:
- Biological Infestation: Wood is susceptible to decay caused by fungi, bacteria, and wood-boring insects. These organisms thrive in specific temperature and moisture conditions; indoor climate control helps mitigate these threats.13
- Light Damage: Exposure to light, particularly ultraviolet radiation, acts as a catalyst for chemical reactions that can bleach, discolor, or weaken the structural integrity of the wood.12
- Surface Degradation: For polychrome or painted sculptures, environmental movement can destroy the bond between the wood and its decorative finish, causing the paint to flake away.1
- Pollutants: Indoor environments provide protection from urban and industrial pollutants that can degrade both the wood and any metal fittings or decorative elements.2