Pakistani Conservators Bring Fresco Skills to London's St Jude's Church

Iqra Asim and Maryam Baig, two conservators from Pakistan, are spending a year at St Jude's on the Hill in London, working on the church's spirit frescoes. Both are visual artists turned conservators, driven by a passion to preserve heritage sites in Pakistan, where conservation education is lacking. They were selected from South Asia by the Commonwealth Heritage Forum, which funded their internship. At St Jude's, they have learned new techniques, including gilding and on-site salt testing, and have adapted to the differences between spirit frescoes and the true frescoes common in Pakistan. They aim to transfer their enhanced skills and knowledge back to Pakistan, where they hope to teach and improve conservation practices. The project is a collaboration with Cliveden Conservation and the Courtauld, and the conservators express gratitude for the opportunity, emphasizing the value of hands-on experience and international exchange.