Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The diverse collection includes mid-century prints, Japanese textiles, fashion and modern art. The goal of the exhibition designers and electrical engineers is to create an intense and immersive atmosphere using light.

Dainichi, the Buddha of Infinite Enlightenment, Japan, late Heian period, later half of the 11th century, Japanese cypress; wooden block composite construction; height of the figure: 151cm; height with plinth: 174cm; Denman Waldo Ross Collection, 11.10.1-2

Gallery of the Buddhist Temple Room

The lighting is designed to enhance visitor experience while simultaneously protecting the artworks. Close collaboration with the conservation department ensured that the lighting would not damage the artefacts over time. This required careful measurement of light levels and adjustments of the luminaires to meet specific lighting requirements.

During the renovation of the Japanese Buddhist Temple Room, a contemplative temple atmosphere was created. This required lighting that complemented the ancient architecture while highlighting the intricate details of the sculptures. Strict conservation requirements were applied to the Buddha sculptures. Precise control was necessary to limit lighting to the museum’s opening hours and minimise the exposure of light-sensitive artworks.

Eclipse 48V spotlights from ERCO were selected for their flexible adjustability, and the large beam in the room provided a discreet mounting location. Using Casambi Bluetooth, the light is dimmed to around 75 lux, switched on shortly before the museum opens, and turned off shortly after closing. This created a warm, inviting environment that makes the Buddha sculptures feel more intimate and accessible.

The 48V system proved to be the perfect solution. It is highly adaptable and supports a variety of accessories, including wallwasher and zoom lenses, sculpture lenses and diffusing lenses.