15 April 2025
We are thrilled to announce that the GREENART project will be one of the featured initiatives in the EU Pavilion at the Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, taking place in Japan from 3 to 5 May 2025.
The event will spotlight our international collaboration between European and Japanese partners, particularly highlighting the work led by Associate Professor Isao Yotanda (Department of Advanced Chemistry, Tokyo University of Science) and Visiting Associate Professor Taku Ogura (Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Tokyo University of Science). This exhibition will showcase hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge, sustainable art restoration techniques developed within the GREENART framework.
The exhibition aims to raise awareness about the social relevance of restoration, the importance of scientifically supported methodologies, and the potential for new interdisciplinary applications — including an exciting collaboration with Shiseido Co., Ltd., exploring the parallels between canvas restoration and skincare science.
GREENART will present its cutting-edge research and solutions for the sustainable conservation of cultural heritage, exploring the connections between art restoration and cosmetic technologies under the theme: “Sustainable Materials: From Art to Cosmetics.”
Interactive Activities at the GREENART Stand
The GREENART space will feature three interactive stations designed to engage audiences of all ages:
- Two hands-on activities focused on gel preparation for artwork cleaning:
- For adults: preparation of alginate spheres, used to create the flags of Italy, Japan, and the European Union.
- For children: creation of a reopexic starch-based slime and cleaning tests using safe, green formulations.
These activities will be applied to specially prepared mockups inspired by abstract art (e.g. Pollock-style), traditional painting samples, and small artworks themed around Japanese manga.
A third station will highlight the work of GREENART’s Japanese partner, showcasing how the same materials and technologies used in art restoration can find applications in the cosmetics industry.
In addition, a variety of mini-experiments and visual tools will be used to demonstrate how GREENART’s bio-based gels, developed by leading European researchers, contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage in a safe, sustainable, and innovative way.
The participation of GREENART in Expo 2025 is not only a recognition of the project’s innovation but also an invitation to the global community to reflect on how restoration science can contribute to:
- Sustainable museum practices and art education
- Life-support applications in ageing societies (e.g., skin protection, cleaning, regeneration)
- The development of circular economy technologies
Stay tuned and join us in celebrating this milestone for GREENART — where tradition meets innovation, and art meets science.
