Silica aerogel is an attractive material for art as well as science and engineering. The characteristic transparency and low refractive index have made silica aerogel a novel material for visual arts under the name of aer()sculptures. Starting from one sculptural work by the first author, the artwork (M)other, is a novel concept proposing the use of silica aerogel in the “restAURAtion” of cultural heritage to replace classical plaster of Paris techniques. Restoring missing parts of a monument with a translucent material renders a new aesthetic quality. Light scattering disambiguates the missing arms of a Parthenon Caryatid, for example, an ethereal image adding to its historic value, which cannot be achieved by the plaster of Paris restoration technique.

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