Center for International Light Art Unna

An anchor point on the Route of Industrial Heritage

Only seemingly contradictory spheres complement each other in Unna. The town is located on the eastern periphery of the Ruhr metropolis, between the industrial district and the rural Bördeland landscape. The Center for International Light Art, which opened in 2002, adds a temporal dimension to this special spatial feature: the historic location now houses works based on contemporary lighting technology. Visitors experience a successful symbiosis.

Above and below ground

A cultural metropolis also becomes visible through its landmarks. One such landmark is the chimney of the Lindenbrauerei brewery, which rises 52 meters into the sky. Visible from afar, it is the bearer of Mario Merz's work "Fibonacci Series". It is based on a sequence of numbers known since antiquity, which can be used to describe natural growth processes. In Unna, they glow neon blue against the night sky.

Underground, the industrial ambience of former cooling cellars and Garbeck as well as labyrinthine corridors emphasize the effect of the exhibited objects.

The work of James Turrell

The highlights of the permanent exhibition at the Center for International Light Art are works by James Turrell. Born in Los Angeles in 1943, the artist is one of the most important representatives of this innovative art genre. He uses artistic means to intensively explore the perception of space and light. His work forms the focus of the collection.

The Metropole Ruhr owes two of Turrell's works to the Light Art Center in Unna. In "Floater 99", visitors seem to dissolve in diffuse light. "Third Breath" is part of the series of so-called Skyspaces and is based on the principle of a camera obscura. Between May and October, the sky over Unna can be experienced in a unique sensory way.

The thirteen internationally renowned artists who have set up a permanent installation in the Light Art Center include Christian Boltanski, Olafur Eliasson, Rebecca Horn, Joseph Kosuth and Christina Kubisch.

International Light Art Award and museum visit

The temporary exhibitions, discussions, symposia, conferences and workshops on the subject of light also make a visit to Unna worthwhile. With the "International Light Art Award", the center promotes artists who develop light art innovatively and creatively. The award has been presented every two years since 2015 in cooperation with the innogy Foundation.

Please note: The Center for International Light Art Unna can only be visited as part of a public guided tour. However, on the first Sunday of every month, visitors can also discover the collection presentation and temporary exhibitions on their own.

The museum is also not completely barrier-free. Visitors with walking difficulties and wheelchair users can access the museum via an elevator. Some installations cannot be seen at all or only to a limited extent due to accessibility via stairs.

Please also note that Olafur Eliasson's installation works with strobe lighting. This can cause seizures in people with epilepsy.