Winners of the Simetría Residency Award

Today, Arts at CERN is announcing the two awards for the Simetría residency taking place in 2021. The recipients are Chloé Delarue, a Swiss artist based in Geneva, and Patricia Domínguez, a Chilean artist, based in Santiago. They will both complete a joint residency of up to three weeks split between two locations – CERN in Geneva and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) astronomy facilities in Chile: Antofagasta, La Silla and the ALMA observatory (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO).

Simetría is organised by Arts at CERN in Geneva and by Corporación Chilena de Video y Artes Electrónicas (CChV) in Chile. It is an artistic residency award created to foster dialogue between art and fundamental science, as well as interdisciplinary exchange between artists and scientists working or living in Switzerland and Chile. One artist from each of the two countries is invited for a dual residency, to research and explore new expressions in connection with fundamental science. The first exchange residency took place in 2019 with the Swiss artist Alan Bogana and the Chilean artist Nicole L’Huillier.

Arts at CERN is supported by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia in the context of its programme “COINCIDENCIA – Swiss & South American Cultural Exchanges”. Simetría in Chile is supported by ALMA and ESO, the Ministry of Culture, the Arts and Heritage, and UNESCO.

Both Switzerland and Chile are home to some of the most singular scientific instruments in the world, dedicated to understanding the origins and the evolution of the universe. During their residencies, the artists will explore the scientific sites, their extraordinary locations and scale – both laboratories and observatories – to explore new expressions in their artistic practices, and to further develop them into art productions. In this unique exploratory residency, the artists will collaborate with and receive support from scientists and engineers, as well as the staff of the host research facilities.