Star Mapping Sculpture
Swissnex in China has collaborated with EPFL Pavilions and the Shanghai Astronomy Museum to launch a unique exhibition that showcases the wonders of the cosmos. The exhibition will be open from May 18 to September 17, 2024, offering visitors an immersive experience that brings the vastness of astrophysics data into tangible reality. Each installation within the exhibition presents a unique perspective on our understanding of the universe and invites visitors to become cosmic archaeologists, unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos.
Presented by Shanghai Astronomy Museum and EPFL Pavilions in collaboration with Swissnex in China, Cosmos Archaeology will bring the latest international achievements at the intersection of art and astronomy to domestic audiences.
Melding art and science, Cosmos Archaeology reveals the depths of the Universe through physical, perceptual and sensory interaction. Harnessing technologies of immersive and interactive visualization and the visual arts, the exhibition transformed the most complex astrophysical data into sounds and images that everyone can experience and understand.
The artworks featured in "Cosmos Archaeology" primarily result from the close collaboration between the humanities and astronomy. It embodies a profound fusion of artistic expression and scientific inquiry, nurturing an international discourse from a celestial vantage point.
The exhibition is co-curated by Sarah Kenderdine from EPFL’s Laboratory for Experimental Museology (eM+), Jean-Paul Kneib from EPFL’s Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO), and independent Chinese curator Iris Long. It highlights collaborations between artists and prominent astronomical projects, including the MUST Telescope from Tsinghua University and the Chinese SKA Science Projects led by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory.
The overall goal of this project is to create a platform over several months that inspires the general public about space science and facilitates in-depth dialogues and workshops between international experts on the topics of experimental museology and sustainable space. Moreover, it provides a glimpse into the latest advancements in space science research from both Switzerland and China.
This exhibition is generously supported by Beijing Yuanzhen Culture Co., Ltd, Presence Switzerland, the Department of Astronomy at Tsinghua University, the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Swissnex in China.
In 2022, after two years of research, EPFL’s Laboratory for Experimental Museology (eM+) and Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO) created Cosmos Archaeology: Explorations in Time and Space for EPFL Pavilions. The Pavilions is an amplifier for art, science and society and blends experimental curatorship and contemporary aesthetics with open science, digital humanism and emerging technologies.
Swissnex in China, serving as the bridge connecting Switzerland and China in the frontier fields of science and innovation, has put forth a collaborative proposal to showcase the aforementioned exhibition at the Shanghai Astronomy Museum. Swissnex has invited Chinese curator Iris Long to curate a brand-new exhibition in China to complement the existing exhibits and engage in dialogue with the original works. The exhibition at Shanghai Astronomy Museum includes many of the installations of the original version as well as a series of artworks, curated specifically to expand the concept to a Chinese audience.
Shanghai Astronomy Museum was chosen for its innovative science and technology exhibits designed for diverse audiences, featuring advanced technology and sophisticated aesthetics. Cosmos Archaeology complements the atmosphere of the main exhibition area while also offering valuable additions to its content.
Swissnex in China’s aim with this exhibition is to challenge traditional paradigms in both popular science and contemporary art exhibitions. “We strive to strike a balance between science, art, and mass communication, hoping to enable more audiences to appreciate art through science and grasp science through art” says Cissy Sun, Head of Academia and Arts at Swissnex in China. The Shanghai Astronomy Museum’s Director LIU has shared this vision for international exchange and collaboration and to serve as a platform for in-depth dialogue and potential collaborations. The exhibition highlights collaborations between artists and prominent astronomical projects, including the MUST Telescope from Tsinghua University and the Chinese SKA Science Projects led by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory.
Accessing the scientific knowledge system and traditional research labs has traditionally posed challenges for artists. However, this project is bridging this gap, facilitating close collaborations between the two domains and paving the way for potential long-term residency programs. This initiative has resulted in the commissioning of two artworks, one from Tsinghua University and the other from SHAO, marking a significant milestone in interdisciplinary cooperation.
Bio
Professor Sarah Kenderdine leads a team of software engineers, artists, and curators, at the forefront of interactive and immersive experiences for galleries, libraries, archives and museums. In widely exhibited installation works, she has amalgamated tangible and intangible cultural heritage with new media art practice, especially in the realms of interactive cinema, augmented reality and embodied narrative. Sarah has produced 90 exhibitions and installations for museums worldwide. In 2017, Sarah was appointed professor at the École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland where she has built the Laboratory for Experimental Museology (eM+), exploring the convergence of imaging technologies, immersive visualisation, digital aesthetics and cultural and scientific (big) data.
Bio
Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib is the Director of the EPFL Space Center since July 2017. This center has various projects including developing space sustainability (technologies for active debris removal, space sustainability rating), developing technologies for the moon exploration, and educating the young generation of talents in the space domain through hands-on project led by students (construction of Rockets, Cube-Sats, Rovers with participation in international competitions).
Prof. Kneib is also the Director of the Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO) since April 2016. He is invested in astrophysics and observational cosmology research. In particular he has been the Principal investigator of the SDSS-IV/eBOSS project from 2011 to 2018. He has led the construction of the fiber positioner robotic system for the SDSS-V project, and his now working on the miniaturisation of these robots for future cosmological projects, including the Chinese project MUST (Multiplex Survey Telescope) led by Tsinghua University. He is also the Swiss Science Delegate at the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO an international organisation, that includes China, building the largest radio-astronomy infrastructure in the world). He is also scientifically renowned for his work on gravitational lensing, and the mapping of the Universe in 3D thanks to redshift surveys.
Bio
Iris Long is a writer, independent curator and Berggruen Fellow. Her recent work has been focused on the critical infrastructures in China, fundamental science and art. Iris Long is also a Swissnex Fellow.
Star Mapping Sculpture
Army of Robots
A Sign in Space
Space Time Elastic
Virtual Orbital Visit
Spectral Constellation
NOAA
Archaeology of Light
行星编年史
Falling back to Earth
Venusian Rover
The Secret World of Space Junk
Dark Cloud of Debris
Fragmented Echos
SKA Simulator
Orbits Triptychon
MUST 天文望远镜 三屏影像
Analog Artefacts
Cosmic Collisions
The Dynamic Universe
Particle Horizon
Mass
The Silent Pulsar of the Universe
天文馆陨石作品