Simetría
An exchange residency between CERN and the Chilean Observatories
Simetría allowed artists to carry out their artistic enquiry in relation to astronomy and particle physics at some of the world’s most important scientific research centres. Two artists, one from Switzerland and one from Chile, were invited to carry out a 3-weeks residency in Switzerland at CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics, and in Chile at European Southern Observatory’s VLT (Very Large Telescope) and ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimetre Array)observatory (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO).
Created in 2019 the goal of Simetría's main goal is to foster further developments on the dialogues between science and arts, reflecting about the research at remote locations and at laboratories and observatories. An objective is also to explore the diversity of physics and the sciences of the universe and how these fields of research may inspire innovation in the arts.
Simetría, launched with support from Pro Helvetia Coincidencia, the Swiss-South America exchange programme, and the Ministry of Culture, Art and Heritage in Chile, is a joint cooperation between Arts at CERN, ALMA, ESO and the Corporación Chilena de Video.
In the first edition, Alan Bogana and Nicole L'Huillier spent three weeks at CERN in June and July 2019, followed by the second stage of three weeks in Chile, travelling from Santiago to the Atacama desert and the Antofagasta region where ALMA and Paranal Observatories are located.
In the 2020 edition, Patricia Dominguez and Chloé Delarue were selected to carry out the dual residency. In 2021, the artists explored the scientific sites, their extraordinary locations and scale to explore new expressions in their artistic practices, and to further develop them into art productions. This unique exploratory residency offers the opportunity to the artists to collaborate with and receive support from scientists and engineers, as well as the staff of the host research facilities.