Laura Couto Rosado and Alan Bogana feature in ‘Cosmos’ at CID Grand-Hornu
The exhibition reveals how designers have questioned the architecture of the universe and the hidden laws of physics that govern it. The programming includes a panel discussion with the participation of Head of Arts at CERN Mónica Bello and designer Laura Couto Rosado.
The exhibition Cosmos brings together the work of designers who have, in a conceptual, technical or poetic way, questioned the architecture of the universe and the hidden laws of physics that govern it. From Einstein’s theory of general relativity to quantum theory, from gravity to the nature of space and time, from the micro to the macro, the modern image of the cosmos is embodied in design projects that lead us far beyond its scientific roots and reflect its mysteries and beauty.
Laura Couto Rosado is a Swiss designer who develops her practice beyond the form/function concept and the dogma of 'problem-solving'; she moves towards other paradigms that reflect the complexity and increasing rate of social change. In 2017, Couto Rosado received the Collide Pro Helvetia Award – now Connect – and completed a three-month residency at the Laboratory working with physicists, engineers and Laboratory staff.
Now on view at CID Grand–Hornu, Quantum Nuggets is a project that generates organic forms from real data of particle collisions recorded by the ALICE Experiment, one of the detectors at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. ALICE studies the quark-gluon plasma originated by heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, which is thought to have existed shortly after the Big Bang. In collaboration with CERN particle physicist Jeremi Niedziela, Couto-Rosado transformed ALICE’s data into a series of moving images, which were then 3D printed into organic sculptures. ‘Quantum Nuggets’ aims to reflect on our perpetual questioning about the origin of the universe, materialising the phenomena dating from the Big Bang recreated by physicists at CERN.
Winner of the Simetría Award in 2019 along with Chilean artist Nicole L'Huillier, Swiss artist Alan Bogana focuses on exploring, real and fictional, the behaviour of light and its interactions with matter. He investigates this broad field of study through computer graphics simulations of impossible phenomena or the manipulation of translucent, phosphorescent and holographic materials.
His work Diamond Mountain is inspired by the discovery of the exoplanet 55 Cancri e. About twice our planet’s size, the planet has been speculated to be partially made of diamond. Through a computer simulation, Bogana explores the refractive properties of a mountain made of this gemstone.
On 18 January at 8pm (CET), join us for a panel discussion on Arts and Science with Mónica Bello, Laura Couto Rosado, and Thomas Hertog moderated by Camilla Colombo, founder member of Ohme Studio. After an introduction to Arts at CERN’s programmes and an overview of the current challenges in physics, the guests will share their experiences and answer questions from Camilla Colombo and the audience.
Monica Bello is a curator and art historian. Since 2015, she has been Curator and Head of Arts at CERN, the art program of the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva.
Thomas Hertog is a Belgian cosmologist and physicist. He is now a professor in the Institute for Theoretical Physics at KU Leuven, where he heads a research group examining the relationship between the Big Bang and string theory.
Laura Couto Rosado is a designer, drummer and apprentice shamman. Her practice evolves beyond the form/function principle and the “solving problem” dogma; it moves towards other paradigms that reflect the complexity and acceleration of social changes. She was resident at CERN.
Ohme Studio is a production company curating and producing installations, performances and events. It brings artists, scientists, technologists and researchers together to create new paths for scientific mediation through the arts, and inject advanced technologies and sciences into the creation of new artworks.
Cosmos: Design from here and beyond at CID Grand-Hornu runs through 27 February 2022