INTERVIEW Architect Farah Barnes is in charge of the Foundation’s new MoCA, Athens, exhibition and lighting design.
Natural light is a divine source of spiritual values and a symbol of the human soul. Let us begin by asking you to describe your practice for us. You are an architectural lighting designer specializing in museum and public building lighting – what does this involve? I was educated as an architect and have practiced architecture in a wide range of projects including commercial buildings, bridges and interiors. However, over time I realized the critical importance of lighting and came to specialize in that area. At first, I focused on museums. But later I realized that I could apply my skills and vision to working on a broad range of public buildings, such as hotels, offices, and schools, bringing to these projects the sensibility I had developed through my work in museums. From time to time I also design the lighting in art collectors’ residences. My practice is international: as well as my work in the United States I have had several projects in the Middle East and I hope to soon open a branch office in Abu Dhabi. I have always loved both architecture and the arts. Early in my professional career and immediately following my architectural training I was privileged to work as an exhibition designer at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, involved with all aspects of an exhibition from the initial concept to the opening of the shows. For the young architect/ designer that I was back then it was the most fulfilling experience to work within such beautiful buildings as the East Building, designed by IM Pei, and the original building designed by John Russell Pope. Working at the National Gallery of Art became an amazing journey of learning about the display of art, about natural lighting, artificial lighting, and space. It was like a dream to be able to walk through the buildings every day early in the morning when no-one else was around and to study the paintings, artifacts, and architecture. I became sensitive toward the display of objects and the art of illumination. I was very proud to be told that when the Presidential Design Award was given to our design department in 1989, I had played an important role in achieving it. However, I wanted my own practice and APV Architectural and Exhibition Design was established in 1990 in Washington DC. I took my practice on a professional journey from architecture to interiors, exhibitions, and architectural lighting. On my extensive travels in Europe, the Mid-
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