Influence of light environment on deterioration of mural paintings in Mogao Cave 285, Dunhuang

Mural paintings in Mogao Cave 285, part of the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China, exhibit significant deterioration due to environmental factors. Research reveals that hygrothermal conditions and light exposure—particularly UV irradiation—accelerate physical damage such as cracking and color changes, with organic pigments showing pronounced chroma saturation shifts. Experimental simulations on Bengal red, lapis lazuli, and other pigments demonstrated distinct vulnerability patterns: cracks formed predominantly in Bengal red, while salt-induced white crystals emerged universally across pigment layers. The study highlights the critical role of environmental control, especially post-collapses like the one affecting Cave 285's entrance hall, in preserving these irreplaceable cultural artifacts.

Ogura, D., Nakata, Y., Hokoi, S., Takabayashi, H., Okada, K., Su, B., & Xue, P. (2019). Influence of light environment on deterioration of mural paintings in Mogao Cave 285, Dunhuang. THERMOPHYSICS 2019: 24th International Meeting of Thermophysics and 20th Conference REFRA, 2170, 20013. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5132732