Lights On! Sustaining Light-Based Art

As part of its 30th anniversary program, Hamburger Bahnhof — National Gallery of Contemporary Art is hosting the symposium Post Discipline. The Future of Art History, Collection Care, and Public Engagement for Museums of Contemporary Art (12-14 November 2026). The Three-Day Gathering is dedicated to current questions regarding knowledge production and art histories, preservation and care, and education and learning in contemporary art museums.

Within this framework, Lights On! Sustaining Light-Based Art focuses on the preservation of light-based artworks and their future in museum collections. Held on November 13, 2026, it addresses challenges including technological obsolescence, material availability, and sustainability. Taking Dan Flavin's site-specific installation untitled (1996) at Hamburger Bahnhof as a point of departure, the symposium considers how these conditions affect the authenticity, material integrity, and long-term stewardship of light-based art.

Bringing together international experts from conservation, curatorial practice, collection management, and research, Lights On! Explores current approaches to documentation and preservation while fostering dialogue between institutions, artists, manufacturers, and estates on the future care of light-based artworks.

Participation is free of charge.

Waiting list

Program Registration/Conference Desk Open 8:30 —9 am

Welcome 9 — 9:15am

Till Fellrath, Co-Director Hamburger Bahnhof — National Gallery of Contemporary Symposium's Planning Committee Hamburger Bahnhof - National Gallery of Contemporary Berlin/Academy of Fine Arts WienKeynote 9:15 — 9:55am

Reinhard Bek More light! Bek & Frohnert LLC, New YorkCase Studies — Brief Case InsightsChair: Andrea Sartorius 9:55 — 10:15am

Markéta Krausova, Evelyne Snijder's Too Hot to Handle? Exploring Alternative Light Sources for the Integral Hologram Angel (1975—76) by Simone Forti and Lloyd Cross University of AmsterdamTeddy Woods, Jihyun Choi Keeping Offspring Switched On: Conserving a Living Light Installation University College London & Leeum Museum of Art, SeoulHannah Backes, Ute Kannengiesser Illuminated from All Sides Albertina Museum, ViennaCoffee Break 10:15 — 10:45am

Session 1 Collection Care — Protocols and Practices for Light-Based ArtChair: Carolin Bohlmann 10:45am—12 pm

Alessandra Guarascio, Yeung Shin Li, Dieke Ribbers From Neon Systems to Incandescent Bulbs and LED: Institutional Approaches to the Preservation and Perpetuation of Dynamic Works of Art M+ Museum, Hong Kong Caitlin Gozo Richeson, Caroline Longo Illuminating Preservation: Developing Frameworks for Light-Based Artworks at The Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art, New YorkMelissa David, Kendra Roth, Riam-Helene Rudd Illuminating the Gaps: Building Protocols for Light-Based Objects in the Modern & Contemporary Collection at the Met Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkSession 2 Documenting Light-Based Art Chair: Josephine Bobeck 12—1 pm

Bogna Skwara, Ellen Moody, Maggie Bell, John Griswold, Olivia Kuzio Looking on the Bright Side: Spectrometric Insights into the History of Robert Rauschenberg's Green Shirt Getty Conservation Institute, Norton Simon Museum, USA Eva Riess, Pauline Reschke, Andreas Barthelmes, Florian Holzherr How to Capture Light? Documentation Strategies on Light-Based Artworks at Hamburger Bahnhof Hamburger Bahnhof — National Gallery of Contemporary Art, BerlinLunch Break 1— 2:15pm

Session 3 Light as Medium — Different Light Sources used as Artistic MediaChair: Taylor Hinojosa-Hayes 2:15 — 3:30pm

Taylor Healy Truth in Light: Addressing Myths and Misunderstandings in Neon Art Art Institute of ChicagoLou Ashon, Alexandra Nichols, Willa Ratz What to do about Dimming: Treatment of a Software-Based Light Sculpture by Mona Hatoum Tate, LondonNick Pendemonti, Caroline Gil Rodriguez Tunnel Vision: Three Light-Based Art Installations at the MFAH Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonCoffee Break 3:30 —4 pm

Session 4 Transitioning Into the Future — Approaches to PreservationChair: Elisa Carl 4— 5:15pm

Customs Nagib, Jacob Fishman Neon in New Light Lightwriters Neon ChicagoChristine Haynes Mitchell, Patricia Navedo Garcia Afterlife of Illumination: Maintenance and Obsolescence of Three Light Technologies at MFA Boston Museum of Fine Arts, BostonJoy Bloser, Steve Morse, James Craven, Corina E. Rogge Stockpiles, Collaborative Stewardship, and Supply-Chain Response: Three Decades Sustaining Flavin's Permanent Installation at the Menil Collection The Menil Collection, Houston & Estate of Dan FlavinPanel Discussion Where Do We Go From Here? What visions, strategies and responsibilities will shape the future of light-based art? Moderator: Pia Gottschaller 5:15 — 6:15pm

Reinhard Bek Bek & Frohnert LLC, New YorkJoy Bloser Niki Charitable Art FoundationEllen Moody Getty Conservation Institute, Los AngelesFrancesca Esmay Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New YorkWilla Ratz Tate, LondonJohn Jaspers Center for International Light Arts, UnnaCaroline Bohlmann Academy of Fine Arts, ViennaClosing Remarks 6:15 — 6:30pm