APAC Labs participates in ART.Cy 2026 with Masterclass titled ‘From Surface to Site: Art Characterisation and Digital Documentation as an Integrated Pipeline’

Earlier this month, APAC Labs participated at ART.Cy Conference and Exhibition 2026 and contributed to this year’s multidisciplinary programme with a masterclass that highlights how science and technology can further explore cultural heritage.

Held annually in Cyprus, the ART.Cy Conference and Exhibition brings together artists, galleries, creators, and researchers for a two-day event celebrating artistic practice. The programme featured a wide spectrum of artistic disciplines—from painting and sculpture to ceramics, photography, and digital art—alongside expert-led masterclasses that explored key themes on particular art subjects.

Representing APAC Labs at the conference, Nikolas Bakirtzis and Athanasios Koutoupas delivered the masterclass titled “From Surface to Site: Art Characterisation and Digital Documentation as an Integrated Pipeline.” The session introduced participants to the scientific and digital methodologies developed by APAC Labs for studying artworks and cultural heritage objects.

Drawing on a range of case studies—including paintings, icons, sculptures, archaeological artefacts, and entire heritage sites—the masterclass demonstrated how scientific analysis can reveal new insights into the materials, techniques, and histories embedded within works of art. The session presented how methods such as advanced imaging, material analysis, and 3D documentation are combined into a coherent workflow that connects micro-scale evidence, such as the composition of pigments or materials, with broader spatial and contextual interpretation.

This integrated approach allows researchers to move from the surface of an artwork to its wider cultural and spatial context, creating a deeper understanding of how artistic objects were made, used, and preserved over time. Beyond research, these methods play an important role in supporting conservation strategies, guiding restoration efforts, and ensuring that artworks and heritage objects can be documented and protected for the future.

Alongside the masterclass, APAC Labs also hosted a dedicated booth within the ART.Cy exhibition area, offering visitors the opportunity to engage directly with the laboratory’s work and explore the technologies used in heritage science. Through visual material and discussions, artists, collectors, gallery representatives, and members of the public were introduced to the innovative methods used at APAC Labs for analysing and digitally documenting artworks and cultural heritage objects. The booth served as a meeting point for dialogue between the art community and heritage scientists, highlighting how scientific research can support artistic practice, conservation, and the long-term preservation of cultural heritage.

Through the participation in ART.Cy 2026, APAC Labs continues to demonstrate how interdisciplinary collaboration between art historians, archaeologists, conservators, and scientists can open new possibilities for the study of cultural heritage.