Photo author: Goran Srdanov
Technology that allows insight into the hidden layers of artworks without physical contact was presented at the New Moment gallery, where Swiss physicist and conservation expert Marie Didier introduced her deep-tech startup MATIS. The demonstration showed how contemporary scientific solutions can help protect cultural heritage, while also opening new interpretations of artistic works.
The development of this technology emerged from the intersection of two fields in which Didier has been professionally engaged. She earned a PhD in physics with a focus on optics, studied art history in parallel, and further built her experience through collaboration with conservators at the National Gallery of Art in Washington. Such an interdisciplinary background resulted in a system capable of revealing details invisible to the naked eye, such as underdrawings, traces of previous interventions, damage and hidden layers of a painting.
Already validated through collaboration with the Louvre and museums in Berlin, MATIS technology demonstrates how precise analysis of artworks can be conducted without any physical contact with the surface of the work. The system combines a patented Swiss optical camera that captures images across different wavelengths of light with software that transforms this data into readable visual outputs, enabling experts to gain detailed insight into the structure and condition of a piece. This approach is particularly significant for preserving its historical and market value, as it eliminates risks to the integrity of the work.
Although originally developed for the art sector, its application potential extends beyond galleries and museums, ranging from forensic material analysis to industrial inspections and early corrosion detection. As Marie Didier highlights, the next phase of development is focused on further miniaturisation of the system and adaptation for drone use, which would enable inspections of hard-to-access infrastructure and industrial locations without direct human intervention.
The presentation of MATIS technology in Belgrade was realised through a strategic partnership between advertising agency New Moment and accelerator SEE UP, with the intention of bringing innovations created at the intersection of science, technology and art closer to the local professional and creative community. The initiative aims to strengthen the connection between technological solutions and the creative and cultural sectors, as well as to position the region as a relevant part of the European innovation ecosystem.
“We are pleased to have had the opportunity to present this innovation in Belgrade. It is important for the local art scene to remain in continuous dialogue with contemporary technologies that contribute to the protection, interpretation and deeper understanding of artworks,” stated Lazar Sakan, CEO of New Moment.
As emphasised by the founder of SEE UP accelerator, Dušan Obradović, such partnerships create space for the arrival of innovative companies with global ambitions, while the presentation of MATIS represents the first concrete example of this collaboration and a signal that Belgrade can become a meeting point for creative industries and advanced technological solutions.
