Autoluminescent - a collection of works from national artists Rebecca Baumann, Brendan Van Hek, and Ross Manning - explores the nature of visual perception and the way light works in a space.

"The three artists don't solely work with light as a medium, but this show is an example of where their practices converge and cross over," Autoluminescent curator Travis Curtin said.

"The main idea came out of that concept of works emanate light or have an inherent materiality that responds to natural ambient light."

Read more: La Trobe Art Institute hosts art workshop for families

The exhibition has been a year in the making, with Mr Curtin working with the three interstate artists since early 2018.

"It's really exciting," he said. "These three artists have been on my radar for a long time, so it's nice to pull them together for this particular show.

"All of the works in the exhibition, in one way or another, work with place and space and are quite specific to the places and spaces the works are shown in.

"So it's nice to bring that approach to Bendigo and our gallery, and have the artists respond to the architecture and spatial nature of the building."

Each of the artists have taken a different approach to the concept of light in space, from technicolour glass coverings on the front of the building, to neon lights and a black hole artwork in the gallery inside.

"Rebecca's work is created through the rotation of the earth, drawing on the light of the sun," Mr Curtin said.

"So it's constantly changing over the day and will constantly change over the course of the exhibition.

"The work of Ross Manning is much quieter and more subdued. He refers to them as ambient paintings or passive works of art that work with whatever ambient light is available."

The nature of the show means that it has to be seen in person to be fully appreciated, Mr Curtin said.

"The point of view changes what you see and you can't really capture that with a photograph," Mr Curtin said. "As you move past it, you become aware of your body and your body's relationship to the work.

"They photograph well but the nature of the work translates poorly through images and video.

"The wonderful thing is that draws in people to the gallery to visit and be with the work in person."

The Autoluminescent exhibition is open at the La Trobe Art Institute until August 24.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.