Color Worlds

Colors shape our everyday lives, the things that surround us, how we live, and how we orient ourselves. Yet we rarely consciously perceive them in their materiality and differentiation. The exhibition focuses on the significance of colors for the perception of nature and culture, and explores the fascinating history of color materials, their extraction, technical production, and application in the arts, architecture, medicine, and natural sciences.

"Worlds of Color" showcases prominent examples that further explore the use of color, including in art—from cave paintings to modern times—including Vincent van Gogh's "Self-Portrait," 1888, and Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night," 1889—always accompanied by background information. "The exhibition also shows how colors and their use have evolved over time," says Dr. Konrad Scheurmann (curatorial team). Current pigment production processes and new fields of application are also presented.

"Worlds of Color" presents prominent examples that further explore the use of color, including in art—from cave paintings to modern art—including Vincent van Gogh's "Self-Portrait," 1888, and Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night," 1889—always with background information. Color shapes our environment and is also of great importance in architecture, added Markus Lehrmann at the exhibition opening. Lehrmann also referred to Le Corbusier's so-called "Polychromie Architecturale" (from 1931 onwards). According to him, the use of color in architecture has aesthetic as well as special functional and psychological properties.