The Centre for International Light Art, founded in 2001, has a unique international profile. The collection concentrates on one of the most advanced forms of contemporary art – light installations. Deep under the ground in the labyrinth of passage ways, cold storage rooms and brewing tanks of a former brewery – now an important anchor point on the Industrial Heritage Trail – light art has found a presentation space that could not be more fascinating or striking. 12 of the world’s most renowned light artists have created their own permanent installations for this space: Mario Merz, Joseph Kosuth, James Turrell, Mischa Kuball, Rebecca Horn, Christina Kubisch, Johannes Dinnebier, Keith Sonnier, Jan van Munster, François Morellet, Christian Boltanski and Olafur Eliasson. 

The integration of contemporary art in the historical structure of a 19th century brewery is based on the idea of dialogue between light and space. Each of the pieces of work creates a unique connection between contemporary art and historical construction. Due to the different nature of the spaces and their labyrinth-like structure, individual spaces have been created and come together to form a unique spatial structure.

Exhibitions, displaying current trends in light installations, complement the permanent collection.

Light installations as an art form in the 21st century do not only require new specific presentation concepts but new intermediation strategies as well.

Hence, the house sees its role as a place of art, reflection and discussion illustrating the whole complexity of such phenomenona as the medium of light. As a competence centre with international standard and an event venue for symposiums and workshops, the museum offers an artistic and scientific framework for current exhibitions and discussion platforms concerning the subject of light installations.