After Rain Comes Neon Light

What happens when you let go of the world around you and allow yourself to be guided entirely by feeling? When intuition, association, and creativity become more important than expectations? After Rain Comes Neon Light is the result of Arnhem-based R&B producer and songwriter KIMONO’s research into his creative and personal development. This project, consisting of music, a club night, and an exhibition, takes visitors on a sensory journey through ten years in which KIMONO’s artistic vision and identity took shape.
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Graphic Design
Dana Dijkgraaf
Photography
Eva Broekema & Jur Ruberti
Exhibition Design
Studio Metmet
Film
Dana Dijkgraaf, Richard Dijkgraaf
Color correction
KIMONO
Music
Artlist and soundscape made for the exhibition

Concept
In the exhibition, art, music and stimulating design guide visitors through the emotions and thoughts of KIMONO and his community. Themes such as love, loneliness, fear, greed, identity and art are explored. KIMONO has worked intuitively and independently throughout his entire career, and this philosophy lies at the heart of the exhibition. As public-in-residence, he collaborated closely with his community, exploring how art can resonate with his audience.

The exhibition combines iconic works from Museum Arnhem’s collection with contemporary pieces that hold personal significance for KIMONO. Some have never been shown in a museum before, such as the helmet from a Frank Ocean music video. Other works, by artists like Sabine Marcelis and Daniel Arsham, are trending on online platforms like Instagram. By merging high art with contemporary culture, the exhibition builds a bridge between traditional and new audiences.

What Did We Create?
The bold exhibition design—a collaboration between KIMONO, studio metmet, and Dana Dijkgraaf—is a full sensory experience. Color, light, sound, and artworks come together to shape KIMONO’s world and offer visitors an immersive experience. The exhibition space is divided into two contrasting environments: After Rain and Comes Neon Light. This contrast is expressed through the use of colored lighting, specific forms, and two opposing typefaces. A carefully composed soundscape enhances the overall experience.

Visitors are welcomed by a large billboard with a continuously shifting gradient, immediately setting the tone. The exhibition is dynamic and evolves by working directly with communities and questioning traditional museum structures. In line with Museum Arnhem’s vision, the exhibition creates space for conversations about inclusion, contemporary culture, and the role of art within it.

Sparkles
This exhibition demonstrates the power of listening to communities. It not only introduced a new audience to the museum but also showed how design, sound, and interaction can foster a deeper emotional connection to art. After Rain Comes Neon Light steps beyond conventional exhibition formats and contributes to a more inclusive and immersive cultural landscape.

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