Herman Kuijer's Light Art Illuminates Collection Centre Netherlands, Partnered by Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum
The Collection Centre Netherlands (CC NL), a vital facility co-managed by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, has unveiled a new light art installation by Herman Kuijer. Activated on January 20, 2021, this artwork brings a dynamic visual element to the building located in Amersfoort, offering a unique interplay of light and architecture.
Experiencing the Installation
Herman Kuijer's installation features 28 movable light sources positioned around the upper sections of the CC NL building. These sources project soft white beams that drift slowly and randomly across the exterior, continuously forming new and subtle compositions. The artist described his vision, stating, "The light casts a soft shroud over a hard building. Inside, cultural institutions are freezing time by carefully conserving their collections; outside, intangible time slips by." The installation is designed to be visible each morning and evening, creating an evolving display for passersby.
Herman Kuijer, born in 1953, has a long history of creating light installations for public and semi-public spaces across the Netherlands since the late 1970s. His previous works include installations in Zutphen, Tilburg, Eindhoven, and Utrecht.
The Significance of the Collection Centre Netherlands
The CC NL serves as a collaborative hub for four major Dutch cultural institutions: the Holland Open Air Museum, Paleis Het Loo Museum, the Cultural Heritage Agency of The Netherlands, and the Rijksmuseum. This expansive 31,500-square-meter facility provides optimal conditions for the management and conservation of national collections. By bringing these diverse collections together, the centre fosters research, enhances expertise, and streamlines loan procedures, effectively preserving the material memory of the Netherlands.
Located in Amersfoort, the CC NL building was completed in 2020, with collections steadily being transferred there. This centralization not only leads to cost efficiencies for the partnering institutions but also creates unique facilities that benefit the broader cultural sector. For additional details, the Collection Centre Netherlands maintains its own website.
Sustainable Design Powering Art
A strong emphasis on sustainability guided the development of the CC NL. The building has achieved an 'Outstanding, 5 stars' rating under the BREEAM-NL certification for its innovative features. These include maintaining an ideal indoor climate without relying on powered climate control and utilizing rainwater for sanitation. Furthermore, a 3,700-square-meter array of solar panels on the roof ensures the building is entirely energy self-sufficient, providing all the power needed, including for Herman Kuijer's captivating light installation.
To discover more about the Rijksmuseum's collections and other cultural experiences, you can browse museums in Amsterdam or explore points of interest on a city map through Musemap (musemap.art).
