Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
From Art Conservation to Skin Care: Green Materials for a Sustainable Future
European Union
This is a showcase event demonstrating green nanomaterials developed in the EU project GREENART for art conservation and cleaning, and exploring their potential use in cosmetics, in collaboration with Shiseido. Visitors can explore three stations, from art conservation to cosmetics, and kids can participate in cleaning tests using mockups. The event offers hands-on experience with innovative gels for cleaning artwork mockups and applying the same gels, formulated with cosmetic ingredients, on the skin for a refreshing feel. The experience includes talks, educational videos, and kid-friendly activities, such as cleaning soil-covered cartoon images using the gels.
Recorded video available
Exhibition
- Art
- Historical heritage
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Track Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.05.03[Sat]
14:00 ～ 18:00
(Venue Open 14:00)
-
2025.05.04[Sun]
10:00 ～ 18:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
-
2025.05.05[Mon]
10:00 ～ 13:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
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- Venue
- Pavilion
- The European Union Pavilion
Programme details
Step into a world where art meets skincare: in this interactive showcase we will demonstrate how sustainable nanomaterials, originally designed for art conservation in the framework of the HORIZON EUROPE GREENART project, can be transferred to skincare, in partnership with Shiseido.
This walking workshop invites visitors of all ages to explore the journey of these green materials—from their scientific development to their real-world applications. Experience the magic of using these materials for cleaning priceless artworks to revitalizing your own skin!
As you move through three engaging stations, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about gels, to test these eco-friendly materials on mock-up artworks to see how they gently remove dirt, and on your own skin to help you feel fresh, relaxed, and recharged. Join us for a hands-on exploration of the future of conservation and personal care!
Reports
【Reflection】
This programme introduced visitors to advanced materials used in the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, focusing on the manufacturing methods and practical applications of a material known as “gel.” This gel transforms from a liquid to a solid-like state under certain conditions and can adsorb and remove dirt from surfaces. Through explanations of how the gel forms and a demonstration using a mock up with simulated dirt, visitors experienced firsthand the same cleaning process used by restoration experts.
The technology featured in this programme is applied in restoring masterpieces by renowned artists such as Picasso, Pollock, and Caravaggio, and is widely used in museums around the world. Shiseido participated as a project partner, showcasing how the chemical and physical technologies developed for art restoration are also applied in cosmetics. The programme allowed visitors to easily understand the scientific principles common to both art and skin cleaning by experiencing gel application on their skin. Visitors of all ages engaged actively, gaining a greater appreciation of the connections between science, culture, and industry in an enjoyable manner.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The gel material and its related technologies introduced in this programme have potential applications far beyond cultural heritage preservation, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, household detergents, and food chemistry. Moving forward, we plan to continue sharing the research results and case studies from the GREENART project, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. In particular, conveying the commonalities between conservation and skincare to the wider public is expected to promote the social implementation of science and expand educational impacts.
Additionally, building on the success of the interactive format, we will explore further development of programmes that allow visitors to intuitively grasp scientific concepts. Such hands-on exhibits have proven effective in engaging a broad audience and encouraging dialogue and learning, making them a valuable approach for future outreach activities.
Leveraging the achievements of this programme, we will sustain and strengthen collaborations among research institutions, industry partners, and museums to advance initiatives that bridge culture, science, and industry.
Cast
Speakers
Piero BAGLIONI
Emeritus professor, Chemistry Department@UNIFI and CSGI
Piero Baglioni is Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florence. He is on the editorial/advisory boards of several international journals and a member of the scientific board of several national and international institutions and societies. He is the author of more than 550 publications and 27 patents in the field of colloids and interfaces, and a pioneer in the application of soft matter to the conservation of Cultural Heritage.
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Giovanna POGGI
Associate professor, Chemistry Department@UNIFI and CSGI
Giovanna Poggi holds a Ph.D. in Science for Cultural Heritage Conservation from the University of Florence. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at CSGI@UNIFI in the framework of the European Projects FP7 NANOFORART, H2020 NANORESTART, H2020 APACHE, ERC GraphenART and HORIZON EUROPE GREENART. She is currently an associate professor in physical chemistry at the Chemistry Department of the University of Florence. Her research mainly deals with the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles and their application to paper and wood deacidification and to carbonate-based matrices consolidation. She has recently started working on the development and characterization of hydrogels and organogels for the cleaning of works of art and on the development and use of biocompatible polymers in several applicative fields.
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Rachel CAMERINI
Researcher, CSGI-UNIFI
Rachel Camerini holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Science for Cultural Heritage Conservation) from the University of Florence since 2019, and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at CSGI@Unifi. Her research has focused on the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles and nanocomposite formulations for the deacidification of paper and consolidation of stone materials. She recently started working on self-assembly of green materials and encapsulation of actives in detergent formulations. She also contributed to CSGI-Solution for Conservation of Cultural Heritage, an initiative that commercializes conservation formulations developed within European projects led by CSGI.
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Andrea CASINI
Researcher, CSGI-UNIFI
Andrea Casini earned his PhD in Chemistry (Science for Cultural Heritage Conservation) from the University of Florence in 2022 and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at CSGI@UNIFI. Since 2018, his research has focused on biopolymer-based nanoconsolidants, nanostructured fluids for the removal of unwanted layers from artistic surfaces, and advanced gel systems for cleaning modern and contemporary paintings. He is part of the research team for the European project GREENART, which explores sustainable materials for cultural heritage preservation. Additionally, he contributes to CSGI-Solution for Conservation of Cultural Heritage, an initiative focused on commercializing conservation formulations developed within European projects led by CSGI.
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Silvia LOB
Researcher, CSGI-UNIFI
Silvia Lob holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the CY Cergy Paris University and a master’s in physical chemistry of materials from the Sorbonne University. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at at CSGI@UNIFI in the framework of the GREENART European Project. She dedicated her research to cultural heritage preservation, studying both ancient materials and innovative treatments to comprehend the physico-chemical interactions at the macro- micro- and nanoscales, committing herself to a responsible conservation of heritage. Her latest research focuses on the characterization of complex systems hydrogel / nanostructured fluids / substrate (metal and frescoes) to adapt green materials for the cleaning of art.
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Isella VICINI
Director of the European Funding Development, Warrant Hub
Degree in Information Sciences and Master in Robotics. 8 years researcher at CNR- IMU Department of Robotics. Contract Professor of Politecnico di Milano. Founder of EFD Business Unit in Warrant Hub (2007). Founder and CEO of beWarrant (2014). Advisor for Horizon Europe cluster 1,2 and 4 in the National Program Committee. HYDRA Project Coordinator - Horizon Climate Impacts of a Hydrogen Economy.
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Taku OGURA
Senior Researcher, Ph.D. SHISEIDO Co., Ltd.
Senior Researcher, MIRAI Technology Institute, SHISEIDO Co., Ltd.
Visiting Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Science
Main field : Industrial applications of Interfacial Science for Cosmetic
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Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
From Art Conservation to Skin Care: Green Materials for a Sustainable Future
This is a showcase event demonstrating green nanomaterials developed in the EU project GREENART for art conservation and cleaning, and exploring their potential use in cosmetics, in collaboration with Shiseido. Visitors can explore three stations, from art conservation to cosmetics, and kids can participate in cleaning tests using mockups. The event offers hands-on experience with innovative gels for cleaning artwork mockups and applying the same gels, formulated with cosmetic ingredients, on the skin for a refreshing feel. The experience includes talks, educational videos, and kid-friendly activities, such as cleaning soil-covered cartoon images using the gels.
-
2025.05.03[Sat]
14:00～18:00
(Venue Open 14:00)
-
2025.05.04[Sun]
10:00～18:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
-
2025.05.05[Mon]
10:00～13:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
- Pavilion
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
OTHER PROGRAM
Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
