How light can affect art and cultural heritage

Works of art require good lighting conditions to provide visitors with a visual experience. Light is an integral part of our environment and plays a key role in shaping our perception. Light is also a form of electromagnetic radiation capable of triggering photochemical reactions. These can alter the colours of a cultural artefact or, in extreme cases, even destroy it. Given that conventional light sources, such as halogen lamps, are being replaced in exhibition spaces by LED-based lighting, which results in entirely different radiation characteristics, the debate surrounding light and its effect on works of art is currently gaining in relevance.

STEM Lecture: ‘The Bright Danger: Damage to Cultural Artefacts Caused by Light’
Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 5.30 pm
Cottbus Main Campus, Lecture Theatre C, Central Lecture Theatre Building (ZHG)
Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 3, 03046 Cottbus

Anyone interested is warmly invited to attend this free, public event! No registration is required.

The speaker, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Christian Weickhardt, conducts research into laser and lighting technology at the University of Applied Sciences for Technology, Business and Culture (HTWK) in Leipzig.In collaboration with experts from the fields of restoration and conservation, historical dyes and pigments are examined here to determine their susceptibility to damage under a wide variety of light sources. Using the data obtained, a method has been developed that allows the colour and brightness changes in a dye caused by radiation from any light source to be calculated, thereby enabling a prediction of the expected risk based on Mathematics. In this way, new types of light sources can be quickly assessed for suitability and lighting scenarios optimised to find a good balance between an attractive presentation and a minimised risk of damage.