Gallery

Gallery lighting – skilfully presenting art

Similar to a museum, a gallery serves to present exhibits. However, the gallery is far more specialised and focused. Unlike museums, galleries do not display a wide variety of exhibits, but rather focus on art – be it figurative or representational. This is usually the focus with the ulterior motive of selling. In contrast to a museum, the building usually plays no or at least a lesser role. All this is also reflected in the lighting technology. Gallery lighting focuses on staging the art objects. At the same time, however, it loses nothing of its demand for flexibility and changeability in order to skilfully illuminate new pictures or other artistic works time and again.

The gallery – rooms with special lighting requirements

In a gallery, each exhibit should have its own effect and show its full aesthetic depth. Inevitably, the effect of a work of art is linked to the light in which it is presented. One and the same light is not always “right”. Just like the choice of form and colour, of technique and material, light often plays a significant role for artists. Only with the right lighting do colours work, the play of light and shadow come into their own, even the smallest nuances of the material surface become visible.

The gallery – rooms with special lighting requirements

Natural light versus artificial light

Today, artificial light is capable of producing almost any colour of light. What it usually cannot do, in contrast to natural light, is reproduce different lighting moods. Natural light varies depending on the time of day and the weather and can present art in ever new ways. With Tunable White, we now enable artists and gallery owners to recreate precisely this range of natural light. In this way, art can be shown in the full breadth of artistic thought.

Light and shadow as part of the artwork

Art lives through light. And also by its absence, i.e. shadow. Various technical solutions, from contour spotlights to classic spotlights to wallwashers, offer the possibility of illuminating artwork and background in a targeted and precise manner or of deliberately leaving them in shadow. This creates contrasts that greatly enhance the effect of a painting or sculpture.

Presentation area and visitor space – demarcation and transition

In contrast to museums, where exhibits and exhibition areas can increasingly be experienced directly and are often even designed to be interactive, galleries thrive on the clear separation of exhibition space and visitor space. Even when art and viewer meet in a confined space, a clear distinction should be made between exhibits and people. In the usually reduced interior of galleries, this is achieved primarily through light. Targeted light control by means of shutters and lenses supports the effect of light and allows a delineated, expressive effect.

Functional lighting – so that art can be experienced safely

Although of secondary importance, functional lighting continues to play a role in galleries. Entrance areas, emergency exits and special areas such as bars, toilets etc. must be easy to find at all times. At the same time, this functional lighting should disturb the art staging as little as possible. Here, too, clearly delineated lighting areas and indirect lighting via wallwashers or floodlights come into play. Supplemented by infinitely variable dimmability, we thus offer highly functional luminaires that optimally combine technical necessities and design requirements.

Lighting concepts for galleries – perfectly realisable with Hoffmeister luminaires

Lighting concepts for the targeted presentation of art are very demanding. Precisely because the room design is very reduced, the effect of the light must be all the more concise and targeted. To achieve this goal, the lighting concept and the technology used to implement it must harmonise perfectly. That’s why we advise lighting designers, gallery owners and artists right from the conception phase and provide information on the performance, variability and limitations of our luminaires.

Downlights and spots – lighting to the point

Both our downlights of the DL50 – DL100 series and spotlights, e.g. the li.co, lo.nely or gi.no series, offer the possibility of direct, spot lighting. Our spotlight series in particular enable targeted, precise limitation and modulation of light via attachable shutters, lenses and filters.

Spotlights, floodlights and wallwashers – planar light for walls, ceilings and floors

led.modular and in.line are our linear lighting systems for wide-area illumination of individual room areas. Bright visitor or exhibition areas can be realised as well as bright background lighting for sculptures and other plastic art. At the same time, infinitely variable dimmability allows for fine tuning of light supply and demand.

Not all light is the same – Hoffmeister luminaires for targeted gallery lighting

Without being tied to individual luminaire models, our model series offer numerous possibilities for adapting the light. Not only according to requirements, but also quickly and easily, exactly the lighting moods that present the exhibits to advantage can be achieved.

Framing – from simple spotlight to gallery spotlight with contouring technology

A painting or photograph has a particularly impressive effect when it shines with all its details and facets on a dark background. Framing is the technique that makes precisely this effect possible. An adjustable lens turns our spotlights from the gi.no series into contour spotlights with a continuously adjustable focal point. Blurred edges of the light cone or unintentionally illuminated background areas are a thing of the past.

Tunable White – one luminaire, countless lighting scenes

Light colours from 2700 to 6500 Kelvin are possible without changing the luminaire thanks to Tunable White. We offer this technology in various luminaire models, thus complementing any “normal” light for professional gallery lighting. The light colour is infinitely variable and can be adjusted according to the artist’s ideas. And this can be done directly and without tools.

Reliability in planning and operation

In practical operation, it is not only the functionality of a lighting system that is important. Durable, safe use is also one of the most important criteria in product selection. All interior luminaires are protected to at least the common IP20 standard and can therefore be used in galleries. Our 5-year guarantee also stands for quality and a long service life for our products. Materials and technology are durable, resistant and functionally chosen. Complemented by a simple, timeless design, our luminaires become the first choice when it comes to gallery lighting.