Please join us online for our exciting International Colour Day 2026 event at 6 pm AEDT on Sunday March 22, to be held in conjunction with the AIC Study Group on Arts and Design (SGAD) as the second of our series of online forums on art and design topics. Four lighting experts, Dr. Wenye Hu (USYD), Dr Emrah Baki Ulas (USYD), Rosa Arcaya (Electrolight) and Leigh Perrett (AGNSW) will speak on topics related to rendering artworks with lighting. The forum will be introduced by SGAD Chair Prof. Dr. Maria João Durão (University of Lisbon) and will be chaired by lighting designer and CSA NSW Division Secretary Vladi Rosolova. We thank Vladi for organizing this forum. Registration is now open for our members and will open for nonmembers on March 08.
In addition to our online forum, our Western Australian Division is planning an in-person International Colour Day celebration in Perth on Saturday March 21 involving a public display and some colour games at The Grove library, Peppermint Grove. Enquiries about the WA Division event are welcome at csa.nec.pres@gmail.com.
Spectral Intelligence: Illuminating the Colours of Art by Dr Wenye Hu
Many historical paintings were created under lighting conditions very different from those in which they are displayed today. As a result, the colours we see in modern galleries may not accurately reflect what the artist originally intended. Through examples from well-known paintings, this presentation explores how optimisation algorithms can help generate a tailored 'lighting recipe' for an individual artwork. By integrating spectral optimisation, colour science, and algorithmic modelling, lighting systems can be engineered to fine tune the spectral power distribution of multi channel luminaires, enabling a more faithful reconstruction of the visual environment and colour appearance envisioned by artists.
Dr. Wenye Hu leads the Lighting Lab at the University of Sydney and serves as the Stream Director for the Illumination Design Program. She holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and a bachelor's degree in Illuminating Engineering from Fudan University. Before entering academia, Dr. Hu spent over a decade in professional lighting design, contributing to many projects, including the stadium lighting for the Beijing Olympics and the lighting design for the Shanghai Tower.
Dr. Hu's research focuses on AI-assisted lighting control systems, lighting for aged care environments, and sustainable road lighting. Her work has been recognised through competitive government-funded initiatives, including grants from the Australian Research Council and the U.S. Department of Energy, where she collaborated with international research teams. She has been exploring spectral optimisation, colour science, and algorithmic modelling tune lighting systems to enable reconstruction of the visual environment and colour appearance envisioned by artists. Most recently, she is leading a project supported by the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts that investigates road-pavement reflectance to improve lighting uniformity and enhance road safety.
Casting a New Light on Art by Dr Emrah Baki Ullas
In this talk, Emrah Baki Ulas explores the enduring tension between presentation and collections care; where visual clarity, colour rendering, and detail must be balanced against conservation constraints. Ulas also addresses the often-overlooked need to adapt lighting to variations in the types of display, the environment, and the viewer; presenting a distilled and accessible synthesis of critical insights into how contemporary lighting can enhance displays while responsibly safeguarding cultural heritage.
Emrah Baki Ulas is an internationally acclaimed lighting designer, speaker, and educator whose work spans the intersections of light, colour, perception, and the built environment. Following an engineering degree and theatrical lighting studies in Bogazici University in Istanbul/Turkey he obtained a Master's degree in Architectural Lighting Design at the University of Wismar/Germany and then his PhD at the University of Technology, Sydney, for his thesis Casting a New Light on Museums and Galleries; towards modern industry guidelines for lighting in museums and galleries. Emrah is an Associate Professor in Industry Innovation and Design Practice (Education Focused) at the University of Sydney and Technical Director at Steensen Varming Emrah has contributed to many celebrated cultural, civic, and public projects, and brings a unique voice to conversations about light, art, and science.
TM-30: A New Standard for Evaluating Colour Rendition by Rosa Arcaya
For decades, colour rendering in lighting has been dominated by simplified metrics that often fail to capture how artworks are truly perceived, particularly under LED lighting. TM-30 introduces a significant shift in how colour rendition is evaluated, offering a more nuanced and perceptually relevant framework for evaluating the interaction between light, colour, and human vision. This presentation introduces the TM-30 system and explores how its metrics—such as colour fidelity, gamut, and hue-specific shifts—can provide deeper insight into how lighting renders artworks. The talk will explore how TM-30 enables lighting designers, curators, and conservators to make more informed decisions about colour appearance. Ultimately, TM-30 is positioned not just as a technical standard, but as a tool for more faithfully translating artistic intent into the lit experience of the viewer.
Rosa Arcaya (M.Des.SC. (Illumination), B.Int.Des) is a creative and strategic lighting designer and project leader with extensive experience delivering projects of varying scale and complexity – from master planning to an exhibition of 700 objects carefully curated. She specializes in experience design for digital-physical environments and the development of lighting schemes to create immersive atmospheres. Rosa earned her Masters in Illumination Science from the University of Sydney in 2015. In 2016 she relocated to London where she gained most of her experience and expertise within the highest regarded lighting studios. After 7 years she brought her wealth of experience back to Australia.
Confessions of the Lighting Technician by Leigh Perrett
In this talk, Leigh Perrett will discuss anecdotal evidence on when Colour Rendering Index I(CRI) has mattered and the practical issues and cultural expectations which need to be addressed before the application of custom spectral output LEDs for artwork.
Leigh Perrett is an Australian lighting designer and AV technician specialising in live performance, theatre, and museum and gallery environments. He works collaboratively with curators and exhibition teams to create immersive lighting, audio, and AV experiences, with expertise in technical production, live audio, and advanced rigging. Leigh’s creative practice explores visual programming and data-driven approaches to sound and lighting, and he holds a Master of Architectural Science (Illumination) and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Sound and Composition). He is currently the senior lighting technician at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Forum host: Vladi Rosolova
Vladi Rosolova is driven by her passion for light and its’ limitless power to transform space and influence our experience of the world around us. With more than ten years experience working as a lighting designer for leading Sydney (AUS) and London (UK) lighting consultancies and over six years of experience working in architectural offices in both the Czech Republic and Australia, Vladi has deep understanding of creation of architectural spaces, lighting concepts and principles as well as required technical knowledge. Vladi was elected Secretary of the NSW Division of the Colour Society of Australia at the end of 2025.
Registration
This event is free but registration by midnight AEDT on Saturday March 21 is essential. Registration is now open for CSA members and will open for nonmembers on Sunday March 8. Limit: 100 registrants worldwide. Successful registrants will be notified by reply email and will be sent the Zoom link and instructions shortly before the event.
As for all of our International Colour Day events, the recording of this forum will be permanently available on the CSA YouTube channel, so please register only if you plan to attend the live forum.
