Back in 1962, artist Mark Rothko painted 5 large murals exclusively for Harvard University. These works have been in storage for decades and have just undergone a major restoration. In addition to  all the conservation work on them, during the exhibit there will be projections of light onto the murals to enhance them, giving them back their “lost color”.
The pieces will be on public view at Harvard through July 26, 2015, but not without some debate. The museum’s associate curator of modern and contemporary art, Mary Schneider Enriquez, among others, pose the question “what is the “original” work if the projections are enhancing it?” It is an ongoing question as art moves into new centuries, fades and materials change in time.

Rothko’s Panel Five, Harvard 1968
photo courtesy Harvard University Archives

There will be six murals on view (one was brought back from Harvard rolled) thanks to Rothko’s children along with some 32 smaller studies on paper. The M.I.T. Media lab has worked with software to compare color on the smaller works to the murals. The software, calibrated pixel by pixel will help to digitally shine the lost color on the paintings. Each day at 4pm, the projectors will be turned off so viewers can see the paintings in more of their original state. Rothko’s son, Christopher said that these works were a huge step forward in his fathers career and he would be happy to see them viewed once again. As for the technology enhancing them, that remains to be seen.

Harvard University