Photo: John Cimon Warburg, 'Flower Stall, Cannes', c. 1910. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London RPS.491-2020

Opens November 26

Fragile Colours

What are autochromes? Why do they look the way they do, and how do we best preserve fragile cultural heritage?

The autochrome process from 1907 was the first commercially successful colour photography process, and was heralded as a revolution in photography. The process was in use in the early part of the 1900s, and was celebrated for producing luminous, painterly images.

Today, autochromes are rare and valued objects in cultural institutions. The dyes used in the autochrome plates are extremely light sensitive and fugitive, meaning that the colours tend to change or fade when exposed to light or moisture. Once the autochromes are damaged, there are limited options available for restoration. For this reason, original autochrome plates are rarely exhibited.

The PERCEIVE research group has investigated the unique materiality of autochromes, and developed new methods for restoring and exhibiting the plates, including digital solutions.

This exhibition invites you to reflect on how we understand, exhibit, experience and access fragile cultural heritage like autochromes.

PERCEIVE is a collaboration between Colourlab at NTNU, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research, and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).

Fragile Colors is a collaboration between NTNU University Museum and V&A, and is curated by Catlin Langford.

UK participants in Horizon Europe Project ‘Perceptive Enhanced Realities of Coloured collEctions through AI and Virtual Experiences’ are supported by UKRI grant numbers 10065047.

Funded by the European Union's under grant agreement Nr. 101061157.

Production for this exhibition is supported by Bounce.