a pragmatic approach to preventive conservation lighting design support for

A pragmatic approach to

preventive conservation Lighting design support for

Madeleine Vionnet, puriste de la mode Exhibition at musée des arts décoratifs

in Paris from August 2009 to February 2010.

ICOM-CC Triennial 16th Conference – 19/23 september 2011, Lisbon

Specificity of exhibition lighting

The art of lighting is an integral part of an exhibition. Exhibition lighting contains two objective aspects:

- impact of lighting on object conservation : three factors cause damage on objects, spectral sensitivity of the object, spectral composition of the light source and the total luminous exposure. - impact of lighting on visitor’s vision : lighting must give visitors a good view of presented objects, without glare, unwanted reflects or sufficient illumination.

and one subjective aspect:- lighting for display is not only a challenge for visibility and conservation. As part of the spatial design, it must participate with the interpretation and be meaningful. In fact, exhibition lighting is a visual semiotic system.

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Madeleine Vionnet Exhibition

• Seven months exposure instead of the usual three months for a temporary exhibition.

• The objects presented in highly sensitive materials (textiles)

• A famous design firm to set the exhibition (Andrée Putman)

• A large budget (patronage)• A place very structured (showcases)

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The scenography

• walls or ceilings, bright white

• Walls or ceilings, matt black

• Walls, ceilings or floors, glossy black

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The action of preventive conservation in lighting

1. To assist for the selection of light sources,2. To decide of the total luminous exposure, 3. To propose different ways to achieve the goals

of limiting the illumination 4. To be able to measure the light exposure 5. To measure of fading,6. To review the actions 7. To make new proposals for future exhibitions

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1. To provide assistance for selection of light sources

Imposed by the lighting design project:- Fluorescent tubes T5 28W 830

Imposed by the existing installation:- Halogen MR16 50W

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2. To decide of the maximum of total luminous exposure accepted

Sensitivity and classification for cultural propertyThe table below lists materials in four categories according to their sensitivity to light

Category Description

1. No sensitivity The object is entirely composed of materials that are insensitive to light. Examples; most metals, stone, most glass, genuine ceramic, enamel, most minerals.

2. Low sensitivity The object includes durable materials that are slightly light responsive. Examples; oil and tempera painting, fresco, untied leather and wood, horn, bone, ivory, lacquer, some plastics.

3. Medium sensitivity

The object includes fugitive materials that are moderately light responsive. Examples; most textiles, watercolours, pastels, prints and drawings, manuscripts, miniatures, paintings in distemper media, wallpaper, and most natural history objects, including botanical specimens, fur and feathers.

4. High sensitivity The object includes highly light responsive materials. Examples; silk, colorants known to be highly fugitive, graphic art and photographic documents.

Table 1. Classification of sensitive cultural property from CIE 157:2004

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9










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The following table gives the recommended values of maximum total luminous exposure for the different classes of light sensitive objects.

Table 2. Total luminous exposure for different classes of light sensitive object interpreted from CIE 157:2004

MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION

BLUE WOOL SCALE TOTAL LUMINOUS EXPOSURE

Insensitive 7 & 8 no limit (for conservation)

Low sensitivity7 5 & 6 600 000 luxh/y

Medium sensitivity4 2 & 3 150 000 luxh/y

High sensitivity1 1 15 000 luxh/y

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The following table gives the recommended values of maximum total luminous exposure for the different classes of light sensitive objects.

Table 2. Total luminous exposure for different classes of light sensitive object interpreted from CIE 157:2004

MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION

BLUE WOOL SCALE TOTAL LUMINOUS EXPOSURE

Insensitive 7 & 8 no limit (for conservation)

Low sensitivity7 5 & 6 600 000 luxh/y

Medium sensitivity4 2 & 3 150 000 luxh/y

High sensitivity1 1 15 000 luxh/y

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15 000 lx.h/y = 300 hours x 50 lux (1 month)For seven months the dose would be close to 100 Klx h/y (15 000 lx.h x 7 = 105 Klx.h/exhibit)

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3. Propose different ways to achieve thegoals of limiting the illumination

• But 50 lux is extremely low illumination, we propose an average of 75 lux with a dynamic lighting between 30 and 150 lux. (150 klx.h)

• Illumination of all white surfaces (walls and ceelings) by fluorescents dynamic lighting.

• Increase and decrease light levels very slowly to be imperceptible by visitors

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The relative influence of UV protection for lighting by fluorescent lamps.

0 200 400 600 800 10000

5

10

15

20

25

Action d'un filtre UV BWS/2700K

BWS#1 - 130BWS#1 - 226BWS#2 - 130BWS#2 - 226BWS#3 - 130BWS#3 - 226

Exposition lumineuse en kLx,h

Ecar

t de

coul

eur

0 200 400 600 800 10000

5

10

15

20

25

Action d'un filtre UV sur BWS/6500K

BWS#1 - 130BWS#1 - 226BWS#2 - 130BWS#2 - 226BWS#3 - 130BWS#3 - 226

Exposition lumineuse en kLux,h

Ecar

t de

coul

eur

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White wall backlight principle

White screen

Fluorescent lamps

wall dress

spotlight ceiling

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White wall backlight principle

White screen

Fluorescent lamps

wall dress

spotlight ceiling

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White ceiling backlight principle

Fluorescent lamps

walldress

spotlights ceiling

Translucent white ceiling

Glossy blavk floor

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4. To be able to measure of light exposure

• Dosimeters placed at various locations

• Sensor for measuring the exposure time

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Difference in sensitivity of LightCheck according to the illumination source

Variation de la couleur des Lightchecks en fonction de la dose lumineuse sous un halogène

05

1015202530354045

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

dose lumineuse (Klux.h)

delta

E

variation de la couleur en fonction de la dose lumineuse sous un tube à la fluorescence 830

y = 1,5011x + 0,0218R2 = 0,9965

y = 0,0973x + 38,138R2 = 0,9096

05

1015202530354045

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

dose lumineuse (Klux.h)

delta

E

A E of 25 corresponds to a light exposure of 18 000 lux.h

A E of 25 corresponds to a light exposure of 10 000 lux.h

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Dosimeter Lightcheck ( Lido project)

E CIELAB : 0 14 19 65 71

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Dosimeter Lightcheck ( Lido project)

E CIELAB : 0 14 19 65 71

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Determination of the total luminous exposure by looking at the change of color, with the

calibration chart

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Determination of the total luminous exposure on the back of dress #52 18 76

(in showcase # 22 during the time of the exhibit)

Dégradation du LCU en fonction de la DTE avec tube fluorescent 830

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

DTE en Klxh.

DE

19

19 000 lx.h 25

electronic dosimeter The sensor records the light from the start

until the lights are off

mesure du 2 aout 2009

05

1015

2025

30

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

heures

lux

heur

es

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5. colorimetric measurement

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5. colorimetric measurement « Before » measures of E CIELAB between the object and reference plate

« After » measures of E CIELAB between the object and reference plate

Determine the difference of color differences before and after exposure

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Determine the difference of color differences before and after exposure

Matière N°inv. Location de la mesure Couleur de la robe

Couleur de la céramique

E avant

E après

Ecart

Drap de laine 84-35-1 dos marron gris moyen 48 52 + 4

idem Côté gauche marron gris moyen 49 54 + 5

Tulle 52.18.66 Bas du ventre (milieu) vert délavé vert mat 28 28,4 + 0,4

Sous le nœud épaule droite vert délavé vert mat 30,6 33,2 + 2,6

Satin à l’envers 52.18.15 Haut du sein gauche vert vert mat 33,5 35,2 + 2,7

Centre droit bas vert vert mat 31,8 30,8 -1

Haut fesse gauche vert vert mat 31,7 35,5 + 3,8

crêpe 86.70.4 Bassin face rouge rouge mat 13,8 13,6 - 0,2

Milieu dos rouge rouge mat 12,7 11,8 - 0,9

velours 52.18.43 Fesse (losange foncé) vert vert mat 47,3 41,5 - 5,8

¾ dos (losange clair) vert vert mat 45,5 38,2 - 7,3Table of results before and after exposure.

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Recommendations

- Dynamic lighting, variable in time, variable in illumination, must remain a requirement. Need to review or re-installing a new system of lighting management for showcases on this exhition room.

- The exposure time, when the public is absent, must be reduced. It seems unnecessary to open the room two hours before the public comes, when an hour would be more than enough to ensure the proper functionning of electrical and electronic equipment.

- Also required the creation of a work lighting for exhibition setting and maintenance other than the light coming from the display cases.

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Thank you you for your attention

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