Let there be light: How the city of Unna became a centre of light art

The ZfIL is the first and only museum in the world that exclusively focuses on the presentation of light art. From the outset, pioneering, international contributions to light art are brought together and immersive exhibition worlds are created. The museum's exhibition space is now divided into a top-class permanent exhibition with its own collection and rooms for temporary exhibitions.

The light course "Dutch (De) Light" invites you to go on a journey of discovery through the city center, in search of light art. Designed as an evening city walk, the light trail leads to ten different locations in Unna's city center. There they wait to surprise visitors in unexpected corners, such as small alleys and underpasses.

With the help of a private light Parcours city map, the visitor can explore the works of art independently. Curated by the Dutch guest curators Loes Diephuis and John Prop, ten Dutch works by artists are showing theirs: Nicky Assmann, Tamar Frank, Femke Schaap, Joris Strijbos, Philipp Vermeulen and Peter Vink. Three expansive light art installations conquer the museum and create a wide variety of experience spaces. What all three works have in common is that they fundamentally change the space. In this way, visitors can have sensual experiences as they walk through the worlds of light, which make them forget time and place.

The artist Adela Andea (US) is known for her unusual, technoid light sculptures. With the installation “Chaos Incarnate”, Andea will create a room full of psychedelic, brightly colored lights on site for six weeks. They form irregular and meandering structures that pour over the old stone walls and the floor, constantly crossing and confusing. The visitor, drawn in by the shrill, glowing chaos of light, will find it difficult to escape the radiant energy of “Chaos Incarnate”.

The installation “Spectrum (Frame Version)” by Olivier Ratsi (FR) also plays with the entire color spectrum of the rainbow and confronts the visitor with a series of 20 LED frames that seem to float in space with mathematical precision. The color of each frame slowly changes from magenta to purple. Pulsating up and down in one, comparable to the human breath or the waves on the beach, the light composition approaches the viewer. A soundscape enhances the sensory experience and interaction. The spatial perspectives are constantly shifting.