An exhibition's light is shaped by the artistic and curatorial concept. By best supporting this with lighting technology, museum lighting makes works of art and exhibits appear even more impactful in the room. Top coordination of basic and accent lighting is essential for this. Diffuse room lighting provides orientation, while selected points of light on objects or in showcases direct the viewer's gaze. The aim is to create lighting solutions whose appealing aesthetics match their efficiency and that provide the perfect stage for the works of art.
Often one of two poles determines the character of professional gallery and exhibition lighting: White Cube or Black Box. The key decision is between a bright and homogeneous or a dark and dramatic lighting concept. The dark environment in the Black Box can make the physical space "disappear", bringing sculptures, pictures, and exhibits into the foreground. This effective staging is contrasted with the neutral, reduced, and objective White Cube. Uniform illumination of walls and exhibits creates a bright and calm presentation setting. This is especially popular for modern art and room-enveloping installations.
Find inspiration for lighting solutions to perfectly display historical paintings or modern exhibits, whether in museums, galleries, or exhibitions.
Light sources' colour rendering is particularly important in museums. Good lighting contributes to the reason why people go to a museum and look at exhibits. Visitors want to be stimulated and inspired by the form, colour, and message of works of art. Appropriate illumination of at least CRI > 90 is essential for this.
Light-sensitive dyes, such as those in oil and watercolour paintings, are bleached by light. The three parameters decisive for this circumstance are the wavelength spectrum, the irradiation time, and the distance from the object to the illuminant. Learn how to prevent valuable artwork fading due to lighting.
How do daylight and modern lighting technology harmonise inside historic walls? What are the limits of what can be illuminated in the context of art? Answers can be found in the newly staged National Museum Stockholm.
