Chinese Wallpaper at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton: A complex collage of cultures

An in-depth study into one of the UK's most significant Chinese export wallpaper collections and to make recommendations into the future development of this collection. This research will explore and interpret the impact of (de)colonialism in respect of this specific collection, and through a conservation-led research methodology, the student will look at the wallpapers in a global context. Working with the Royal Pavilion (RP) archives as primary material for study, using practical conservation methodology and digital technology, the researcher will seek to illustrate how these wallpapers were the product of a continued interplay and exchange of cultural heritage and reinterpretation.
The student will be required to carry out analysis of RP's physical collection and archives; identify primary source materials, and undertake primary research in a series of research visits. They will be required to undertake pigment and further chemical analysis of surviving wallpapers and to map embellishments digitally. A key element of the role will be community connection and engagement. In addition to the thesis and writing for the RP, the student will communicate their research findings in the form of blogs, talks and possible discussions on input for new displays or interpretation.