How do artists address the transient nature of rattan in permanent museum collections?

Rattan, a natural and biodegradable material, poses unique challenges for museum collections due to its transient nature. Artists and conservators employ innovative techniques to ensure its longevity while maintaining its aesthetic and cultural significance. Methods such as chemical stabilization, controlled environmental conditions, and protective coatings help slow degradation. Additionally, some artists embrace rattan's impermanence, creating works that evolve over time, thus highlighting the material's organic essence. Collaborations between artists, scientists, and conservators further advance sustainable practices, ensuring rattan art endures for future generations while respecting its natural lifecycle. This delicate balance between preservation and acceptance of change reflects the evolving dialogue between art and nature.