Design and Application of a Multilevel Dynamic Preservation Model for Long-Term Archival of Time-Based Media Art

Traditional preservation strategies are no longer suitable for interactive multimedia artworks which present a complex nature and a short life expectancy. This thesis introduces the Multilevel Dynamic Preservation (MDP) Model, a novel framework meant to conserve both the material and experiential features of interactive multimedia art. The model comprehends the artwork as a dynamic process rather than a static object, enabling the documenting of the work’s modifications through history. This technique nevertheless protects the material integrity of the artwork but also its abstract progression and stimulated experiences, allowing future reactivations to remain authentic to the artist's goal. The model will be applied through Neo4j, a graph-based relational database that allows for the modelling of complex relationships between the artwork's components and how they are interconnected. Concentrating on real case studies, particularly an extended example of “hybrid reactivation” and technology migration, the thesis exhibits the real-world application of the MDP model. Utilizing technologies such as graph databases for handling and analyzing the complex relationships within interactive multimedia art, this dynamic preservation approach presents a viable option to the archiving and reactivation of multimedia art, preserving its continued relevance for future generations.