Arts at CERN

Exploring the Unknown manifests as a fertile meeting ground where art and science co-exist, dialogue, and intertwine

Art and theoretical physics may seem like vastly different fields. However, they share a profound connection in their pursuit to understand the fundamental nature of the world around us. Both artists and theoretical physicists strive to create models, images, and tools that can help us better comprehend the complexities of the universe.

Exploring the Unknown brings together artistic and scientific communities, continuing a conversation initiated over a decade ago by Arts at CERN when artists began to be invited at CERN. The exhibition is located at the Science Gateway, CERN’s centre for education, outreach, and culture inaugurated in October 2023. Designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, the centre offers three exhibitions, hands-on laboratories, and an auditorium to immerse visitors in the discoveries, science, and technologies of CERN.

The exhibition revolves around three core themes: space and time, dark matter, and the quantum vacuum, inviting visitors to dive into the collective curiosity and wonder about the universe’s unanswered questions. For the first time, Science Gateway showcases new art commissions created specifically for this space by celebrated resident artists, including Yunchul Kim, Chloé Delarue, Ryoji Ikeda, and Julius von Bismarck. These former Arts at CERN residents were invited to return to the Laboratory to engage with scientists. conducting research on various scientific themes that shaped their commissioned works.

Exploring the Unknown builds on over a decade of work by Arts at CERN, creating a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment where new ideas are explored. Through the synergy between art and science, visitors are invited to explore the limits of human knowledge and immerse themselves in the abstract concept of the unknown.