Isabel Nielen, Lighting Design (1964)

While studying at art school, Isabel developed a fascination for scenography and lighting. In 1990, she became the assistant to the English lighting designer Steve Kemp, while also starting her own freelance lighting design practice.

In the early years, she mainly created lighting designs for theatre, modern dance, and opera in both large and small venues. Location theatre became her specialty, working with Dogtroep from 1992 to 1999, as well as with the Lunatics and Anouk van Dijk DC.

Since 2007, she has expanded her work to include lighting designs for architecture, museums, and public spaces. Since 2015, she has been part of the Theatermachine, a collective of four lighting designers. Theatermachine provides consultancy services and lighting designs for theatre, opera, music, museums and architecture.

In addition to her work in museums, Isabel’s primary focus remains on theatrical projects with a strong social and cultural impact, such as ‘Crossing Time’ in Camp Vught National Memorial (2020), ‘Anderhoofd’ by Opera Theater Amsterdam (2021), and ‘Zenith’ (2022), directed by Tom Jaspers. In 2023/24 Isabel made the lighting design for the music theatre production ‘Grondproeven’ which addressed the challenges related to agricultural practices, performed at various farms across the Netherlands.

lighting design Institute (iLo in dutch)

Besides freelance work, Isabel is director and coach at the Lighting Design Institute (iLo) in Amsterdam. Founded in 2007, the iLo aims to promote the quality of light and lighting design. The focus is on the intellectual and artistic development of the lighting design profession. Isabel has developed and led coaching programs for young lighting designers, organized lectures and workshops, and planned expert conversations and excursions for the iLo. She has also been giving workshops in the Netherlands and abroad for many years.

Since 2020, Isabel has been a regular guest lecturer at the Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK), Design & Technology department in Amsterdam. She also frequently delivers guest lectures at various academies in the Netherlands, including the Reinwardt Academie, Artez, Willem de Koning Academie, and Saxion.

Sharing knowledge — Retaining knowledge?

Isabel has a strong conviction in the importance of knowledge sharing and the transfer of knowledge. Her career has been characterized by a strong autodidactic spirit, marked by a willingness to learn from the expertise of those around her. She has demonstrated a consistent commitment to sharing her expertise.

“I have been a light designer for about 35 years, and I have only recently come to understand that the preservation of knowledge is a significant yet overlooked aspect of our field.” Therefore, I believe it is of the utmost importance to collaborate with Bastiaan Schoof on the development of the Canon II research project. “What is the most effective method for documenting lighting and scenography, both technically and artistically, to ensure the knowledge of lighting design remains accessible to future generations?”