The Ethics of Repair

This talk explores the concept of repair, traditionally associated with fixing broken objects, and its implications for performance art and conservation practices. Starting with the etymology of “repair,” rooted in Latin meanings of restoration and renewal, the presentation probes how repair intersects with care ethics, aesthetics and conservation strategies. Drawing insights from cultural practices and thinkers like Yuriko Saito, it considers repair as a meditative act that tends to both material and human conditions. The talk invites participants to reflect on whether performance conservation can be framed as a form of repair and questions whether something must first be damaged to require such care. By rethinking repair, the discussion opens possibilities for integrating repair principles into experimental care practices and artistic performance conservation.