Arts at CERN announces two key ventures: ‘Quàntica’, an exhibition project at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) from 9 April to 24 September, and a partnership that begins this year with the city of Barcelona as co-host for the Collide International residency award.
‘Quàntica’ is the second iteration of an exhibition project that brings together 10 artworks resulting from art residencies at CERN, juxtaposed with scientific objects to introduce pivotal concepts from quantum physics and the research pursued at the Laboratory. The project is curated by Mónica Bello, head of Arts at CERN, and art curator José-Carlos Mariátegui, with particle physicist José Ignacio Latorre serving as its scientific adviser. The exhibition explores the influence of physics beyond the scientific domain, including its effects on our everyday lives. The artworks illustrate our search to understand the fundamental laws of the universe and investigate the limits of human knowledge through the lens of artists, scientists and educators. The exhibition is designed as a hybrid space, in which visitors will find that the worlds of science and art reflect, echo and transmute ideas through varied means.
“The interdisciplinary nature of Arts at CERN fosters dialogue between scientists and artists, which enriches our understanding of the world around us. ‘Quàntica’ brings forward the creative expression of scientific and artistic endeavours; it allows the public to discover both perspectives and challenges them to explore further,” says Charlotte Lindberg Warakaulle, CERN’s Director for International Relations.
“Quantum physics reaches out to scientists and philosophers within a realm of speculative thinking that is currently extremely fruitful, and that spreads into diverse artistic and cultural languages,” says Judit Carrera, Director of CCCB Barcelona.
‘Quàntica’ is co-produced by ScANNER (the Science and Art Network for New Exhibitions and Research): CERN, FACT, CCCB, iMAL and Le Lieu Unique. The exhibition has its origins in Collide International, the flagship programme of Arts at CERN, which was created to challenge and transform the way art and science encounters are perceived and how science can affect artistic expression.
The Collide International residency started with Linz’s Ars Electronica as co-host from 2012 to 2015, which was followed by FACT Liverpool from 2016 to 2018. Arts at CERN has now signed an agreement with Barcelona City Council and the Institute of Culture of Barcelona to host Collide International from 2019 to 2021. Within this framework, a three-month residency will be awarded to an artist to extend their research at CERN by working together with particle physicists, engineers, IT experts and laboratory staff. Following this, the artist will be hosted for a month at Barcelona’s Fabra i Coats – Creative Factory, where they can expand their research, test ideas and engage with participant-led community projects.
“Barcelona City Council is committed to science as an engine of economic and social development. That is why it is also important to promote recognition through the dissemination of science, as provided for in Pla Barcelona Ciència (Barcelona Science Plan). We are reinforcing this plan’s goal through art with this alliance with CERN, one of the leading scientific institutions in the world,” says Gerardo Pisarello, First Deputy Mayor, Manager’s Office of the Area of Economy and Work, Digital City and International Relations.
Online submissions for Collide International are open until May 17, 2019 for artists interested in applying. A jury of scientific and cultural experts will select the winning artists who will start their residencies in 2019.
Further information:
Arts at CERN website
Arts at CERN Facebook page
Twitter Arts at CERN
Instagram Arts at CERN