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Making Sacred Spaces Virtual: The Role of Digital Tools in Preservation and Demarginalization of Ecclesiastical Art of Southeastern Europe

Churches and monasteries in the areas once within the cultural sphere of the Eastern Roman Empire have become more globally accessible owing to the work of several digital initiatives. Open-access databases and platforms have facilitated research and enhanced the visibility of these monuments, thus allowing for a greater appreciation of their art-historical value, which often transcends national or confessional boundaries. This lecture will explore the multifaceted impact of digital humanities on the study of the visual culture of Southeastern Europe of the Middle Ages and the early modern period. Given the historically turbulent conditions prevailing in this region and global environmental concerns, the creation of comprehensive photographic records has proven to be of utmost importance. Through specific case studies, showcasing examples of digital reconstructions of lost artwork and documentation of endangered sites, the importance of utilizing technological advancements in the preservation of cultural heritage will be demonstrated.

Ivana Lemcool is an art historian and the head of the Medieval Department at the National Museum of Serbia. She also serves as the curator for the Collection of Post-Byzantine and Early Modern Serbian Art. In addition to her research in medieval art, Lemcool has been actively involved in different digital humanities projects, particularly through her work with the BLAGO Fund—a cultural heritage organization dedicated to digitizing and promoting Serbian medieval art.

Sponsors: SGS Global Research Workshop Series, CESTA, Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, CMEMS, CREEES, the Departments of Art & Art History, Classics, French & Italian, History, and Religious Studies.

Co-organizers: Prof. Bissera V. Pentcheva and Andrei Dumitrescu.