The InterBridge project focuses on creatively connecting fields that rarely interact, offering new perspectives on both scientific and artistic creation. The first year of the project culminated in a traveling exhibition titled Optics: The fusion of science and creativity, which showcased the most exciting results of our work so far.
The exhibition ran from October 14 to November 11, 2024, at the Technical University of Liberec, specifically in Building G, on the 3rd floor in the vestibule of the auditorium. Over the course of four weeks, it was freely accessible not only to university students but also to the general public. Our goal was to demonstrate how optics, a seemingly technical field, can inspire artistic creation and serve as a tool for creativity. The exhibition featured works created during workshops with pupils, students, and the public.
What did we actually exhibit?
The exhibition showcased a wide range of exhibits, from artwork inspired by bionics to interactive technological installations, including:
T-shirts with electron microscope patterns – results of the Electron Inspiration workshop, where students from the Secondary Art School in Liberec captured intricate details of various materials under an electron microscope. These designs were then transferred onto T-shirts using screen printing.
Bubble paintings – cheerful mosaics of colors created by children from the Lessing Elementary School in Zittau using colored bubble-blowing liquid and straws.
Drawings inspired by bionics – artworks by pupils from Sokolovská Elementary School who, after a trip to the Dresden botanical garden, depicted inspirations from nature, such as the structure of lotus leaves or mechanical flowers.
“Intercolored” – a light installation by Vítězslav Plavec combining colored paper and programmed LED lighting, challenging our perception of reality and color. This piece is best enjoyed at night because only in complete darkness and silence does its magical play of colors truly come to life. Unfortunately, that’s not possible, as Building G is locked at night. However, somewhere between day and night, a student from the Faculty of Architecture was present in this space and creatively filmed this exhibit, giving Intercolored an additional artistic dimension. You can watch the video here.
Discohelmet – a glass motorcycle helmet covered in faceted crystals, created in collaboration with Preciosa Lighting.
Installation titled “Motion as the basis of existence” – an interactive exhibit that used a camera to capture visitors’ movements and project their silhouettes onto a wall, symbolizing that without motion, we become invisible.
Three large posters – featuring images from an electron microscope and AI-generated simulations programmed by Lukáš to mimic these images. Visitors were challenged to distinguish real photographs from artificially created ones, which was far from easy.
The first and last items on the list – the T-shirts and posters with electron microscope patterns – had already been successfully exhibited at a textile conference in Chemnitz.
Challenges in organization
The organization of the exhibition was not without challenges. Sharing the space with other events, such as the Career Days at TUL and various conferences, required compromises. While we managed to reach agreements with most organizers, there were occasional issues. The most significant arose when some of our exhibits had to make way for corporate booths during the Career Days event and were temporarily obstructed.
Another challenge was the loss of two T-shirts, likely taken by students. While this saddened us, it also confirmed their appeal – they were so attractive that someone couldn’t resist the temptation. This only highlights their quality and originality.
Although the exhibition was open from October 14, it was officially inaugurated on October 17 with a vernissage attended by a representative of the press, Mr. Pluhař, who wrote about us in the university magazine TUNI - you can find the article here. Additionally, my interview with a journalist from Czech Radio Liberec about the exhibition and the InterBridge project has already been published.
This first exhibition was just the beginning. Over the next two years, we plan two more exhibitions that will build on the success of this one. We thank everyone who contributed to the exhibition and all who visited. Approximately 100 signatures were collected during special events and the vernissage. However, this does not reflect the true interest, as hundreds more visitors saw the exhibition, whether intentionally or simply because they passed through the university space. The 3rd floor of Building G, where the exhibition was installed, sees daily traffic from students, staff, and university visitors, and several conferences and other large events took place there during the exhibition.
What did our exhibition truly bring?
The exhibition showed us the importance of collaboration, communication, and compromise. Our art methodologists, Lukáš and Honza, did an excellent job installing the exhibits, and Karolína, Tereza, Míša, and both Pavels were amazing during the workshops, inspiring and engaging participants. Mayza, who took on the role of "exhibition assistant," overcame her shyness and introduced the exhibits to visitors. Even though it might not have been immediately obvious, every team member contributed to the exhibition in some way.
The InterBridge project is not just about results; it is also about the process. This exhibition was not merely a showcase of the connection between science and art. It also brought new experiences to all involved – from children and students to scientists and organizers. While the artistic value of the exhibited works may not be the primary goal of the project, their true value lies in the people, the collaboration, and the inspiration they generated. And that is the core message of the InterBridge project.
Hana Křížová
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