Tapetum Lucidum - Opening exhibition TU Delft Library

Exhibition opening | TU Delft Library | Wednesday 3 July | 16:30-18:30

Photographers Sjoerd Knibbeler and Tessa van Raalte delved into the rich glass slide collection of optics professor Bram van Heel (1899-1966), a pioneer in light research at TU Delft. His so-called “slides” reveal a boundless fascination with the behaviour of light: from optical measurement setups to infrared images and telescopic recordings.

Whereas Van Heel focused on illuminating the world, we live in a time when light pollution has become an urgent problem. How would this engineer and visionary deal with it?

In six chapters, structured as an engineering process, Knibbeler and Van Raalte focus on this question. They combine historical images with contemporary concepts such as biomimicry and explore speculative solutions - including a human Tapetum Lucidum, inspired by night vision in animals such as cats and foxes.

This exhibition is based on TU Delft's extraordinary optics collection. This historic collection, consisting of some 600 glass slides, shows not only the evolution of light research, but also the creative eye with which engineers like Van Heel approached their profession. By inviting Knibbeler and Van Raalte to work with this collection, the scientific legacy is being reactivated - not only as a historical archive, but as a source of inspiration for pressing questions of today.

Also check out other Exhibitions in Delft, Photography events in Delft.