Journalist Anicet Mbida has outlined new restoration technologies, including an Italian-developed gel and precision lasers, designed to salvage vandalised artwork and historic structures.
Speaking on the French morning news program Bonjour ! La Matinale TF1, innovation and digital columnist Anicet Mbida explained how emerging tools offer alternatives to conventional protective measures. High-profile activists in recent years have repeatedly made headlines by splashing paint across famous gallery canvases. While museums have increasingly installed glass barriers to shield paintings, the glass often creates harsh reflections that prevent visitors from viewing the artwork properly.
To address the issue, researchers have developed chemical and optical solutions that treat damaged surfaces directly without impairing the original artistic material underneath.
Selective gel technology
The first major innovation presented by Mbida is a specialized gel developed by a team of Italian researchers. The substance functions like a selective sponge, dissolving only the uppermost vandalised layer of paint rather than stripping the entire canvas.
Mbida detailed how the gel was successfully tested on a drawing notebook damaged by a strip of adhesive tape. Restorers applied the gel over the mark, allowing it to dissolve just the single micron of tape adhesive while leaving the underlying paper untouched. Mbida described the result as a formidable technological achievement.
The gel has proved especially valuable for street art, where installing protective glass shields is impossible. Mbida cited the restoration of a stencil by Banksy that had been completely disfigured with red paint. Using cotton swabs dipped in the gel, restorers successfully wiped away the red paint without harming the underlying stencil. The restored artwork was subsequently placed on exhibition at the museum in New Orleans.
Banksy is an internationally renowned British street artist whose stenciled works often appear on public walls before being preserved by collectors and galleries. The New Orleans Museum of Art, located in the United States, frequently hosts major exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.
Laser graffiti removal
For removing unwanted graffiti from stone and buildings, experts have identified an even more effective technology in specialized lasers. The devices operate similarly to lasers used in medical tattoo removal procedures by focusing energy exclusively on ink pigments.
Mbida explained that the laser targets the ink without affecting the underlying support structure. Unlike conventional restoration methods, the technique does not harm stone surfaces and eliminates the need for abrasive sandblasting or harsh chemical treatments. He also noted that property owners who find their buildings targeted by graffiti can contact their local town hall, which can arrange free removal services.
Beyond paint and tags, the laser systems offer versatile cleaning capabilities across multiple materials. Operators can calibrate the equipment for use on wood or metal surfaces to strip away rust, mold, and accumulated dirt without chemical solvents.
Cost and safety precautions
Despite its effectiveness, laser restoration technology remains expensive. A standard laser unit costs more than 10,000 euros, which currently limits ownership primarily to professional restoration specialists and heritage institutions.
Mbida noted that private individuals and business owners wishing to use the technology can rent the equipment from commercial suppliers. However, he warned that operating the high-powered lasers requires strict safety precautions, as the intense beams can cause severe burns if handled improperly.
TF1 is France's main commercial television network, broadcasting news and morning programming across the country.
