The new alchemists

Abstract

This book Review invites to read The new alchemists: a sociology of the restauration in Mexico, by Alfredo Vega Cárdenas. The author considers that the discipline of conservation and restaura-tion is part of the social sciences and defines it as a practice that structures a particular acknowl edgement where the restorable object is comprehended by an actualization process that aims to transmit its objectivable character. Alfredo Vega analyses the practice of the Mexican restaurateurs trough his own experience, applying the sociological theory by Pierre Bourdieu, recognizing the need to look into other theoretical perspectives to approach the practice. The study of the con-temporary practice of conservation by means of tools and models derived from other critical ap-proaches is requiered.