Why do colours fade?

I was asked the other day about the effectiveness of UV protection to stop light damage to an artwork.

People love to display their art in bright areas because they can see them in all their glory and they look great. But it is important to understand that both UV, and the amount of visible light cause irreversible damage and fading to an artwork. The more light, the quicker the fading. This is why art galleries and museums keep light levels down.

It is a complex issue and some artworks are more susceptible than others. Metal and stone marble sculptures are generally quite resistant to fading, where textiles and artworks on paper are often highly sensitive.

I thought I would share this youtube clip with Dr Karl and Adam Spencer talking about why do colours fade. This describes nicely the process of why things fade, and why red will fade quicker than blue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLnYQohmocE

There is no cure for light damage so prevention is essential. If you are concerned, talk to your conservator as there may be some simple solutions to your problem.