After a decade of closure to the general public, the Kunstkammer Wien Museum (Vienna, Austria) reopened for legions of admirers of fine art. As described in a March, 2013 LED Professional article titled “Contemporary Lighting Art by Zumtobel at the New Re-Opened Kunstkammer Wien”, the museum embarked anew with the “highest conservation requirements, content-related didactic criteria, but also emotional factors played an equally essential role for the new presentation of the Kunstkammer” (staff author). A modern solution for lighting diverse art pieces within the museum was provided by well-respected Austrian lighting company, Zumtobel. Now, contemporary LED lighting solutions bring energy efficiency as well as elegance to the historical pieces from days long past.
The article describes beautifully how Zumtobel “developed a customized LED lighting solution in order to obtain a highly differentiated, gentle and effective illumination of the various objects on display. ‘The point was literally to present the objects in the best possible light. All exhibits are originals, and each of them has its very special aura that we want visitors to be able to feel and experience,’ says Sabine Haag, General Director of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. At the heart of the lighting solution is the Starbrick, a Zumtobel Masterpiece developed in collaboration with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Boasting unpretentious elegance and multi-functionality, the Starbrick is the only representative of contemporary art and cutting-edge technology in these rooms of the museum that were opened for the first time in 1891. The installation includes a total of 51 Starbrick assemblies consisting of four modules each, especially designed for illuminating the unique and sensitive works of art. Additional direct light is ensured by integrated Supersystem spotlights and indirect light is provided by a Panos Infinity module, while one of the Starbrick's surfaces that is directed downwards doubles as emergency lighting. ‘Due to the height of the ceiling, we had to increase the levels of light intensity, but the original shape of the Starbrick remained unchanged. Taking the historical rooms into particular consideration, a highly specific Starbrick assembly was created, so that the modules work like a picture, like stars in the sky,’ explains Olafur Eliasson” (Contemporary Lighting, 2013).
Zumtobel’s masterful use of LEDs with the museum walls goes beyond the Starbrick. “In addition to LED Supersystem spotlights mounted on the walls, single Supersystem spotlights were also installed in the showcases. Especially in the showcases, each of them a highly sensitive closed system, the benefits of LED technology can be fully exploited. Thus, light-emitting diodes not only boast a long service life and high energy efficiency, combined with reduced maintenance cost, but also ensure an effective and at the same time gentle presentation of the exhibits. More-over, the light colors can be individually matched to the colors and materials of the exhibits, so that they can unfurl their full charm and allow visitors to experience them authentically” (Contemporary Lighting, 2013).
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References:
LED Professional.com, “Contemporary Lighting Art by Zumtobel at the New Re-Opened Kunstkammer Wien”. 3/1/13, Author Unknown.http://www.led-professional.com/project_news/art-museum-lighting/contemporary-lighting-art-by-zumtobel-at-the-new-re-opened-kunstkammer-wien
Visit the Kunstkammer Wien web site:
http://www.khm.at/en/?cHash=dfb045333efd096a1ea1afd262c4a608
