Where art meets science

BY PRAN GOVENDER (SKAO)

A new collaboration between the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, is providing artistic residencies with scientific organisations, including the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO).

Connect, launched in April, is a global platform for interactions and dialogue between artistic and scientific communities across Switzerland, Chile, South Africa and India. As part of the Connect South Africa programme, SARAO will jointly host a resident artist with their optical counterpart the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO).

Colleagues across various disciplines working on the SKA precursor telescope MeerKAT will work in collaboration with the resident artist as part of the programme. In both residencies, the selected artists are invited to research and explore new expressions in connection with fundamental research and physics of the cosmos, spending three weeks at CERN in Geneva and five weeks in South Africa.

The MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa

CREDIT: SARAO

The goal of this research-led residency programme is to develop and realise new artworks in dialogue with the scientists, engineers and staff of the laboratories and observatories, and with the support of the Arts at CERN team in Geneva. The selected artists will be announced at the end of July. Science and culture can be intimately connected and throughout history, many illustrious scientists have thrived and left an imprint thanks to their creative thinking. Art can also be a powerful medium to enhance science communication and education efforts, and increase societal impact.

The SKAO’s Shared Sky exhibition of Indigenous astronomy art is one such example, and the connection between science and culture – be it art, poetry, writing or pop culture – is also highlighted in the SKA Construction Proposal, which notes that as an integral part of society with deep aspirations to understand the Universe, the SKAO will naturally have an impact on culture more broadly.

The SALT telescope in South Africa

CREDIT: SALT