A 2.75-metre-tall sculpture made of cast aluminium, situated in front of the ‘Photonic Quantum Systems Laboratory’ (PhoQS Lab) at Paderborn University, now serves as a bridge between art and science. ‘The Observers’ is part of the ‘Art and Architecture’ programme run by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia. The programme brings together architecture and the visual arts at selected state buildings to foster a sense of identity and strengthen the state’s architectural heritage. The artist Alona Rodeh won the competition organised for this purpose.
“This artistic installation gives our new research building a vibrant focal point. It encourages people to adopt new perspectives and to experience the campus as a space of inspiration,” said University President Prof. Dr. Matthias Bauer at the unveiling of the artwork in the outdoor area of the PhoQS Lab. “With ‘The Observers’, our aim to take a holistic approach to building culture and to combine architecture, functionality, and art into a coherent overall concept is made visible in a special way,” says Gabriele Willems, Managing Director of the BLB NRW.
‘The Observers’ combines art and science
‘The Observers’ takes the form of a (pseudo-)human upper body. What makes it special is that when viewed from the campus towards the PhoQS Lab, the sculpture presents a presumably male view from behind, whilst from the opposite direction it appears female. The artwork thus places the theme of observation at the centre. Drawing on the principle of superposition – which describes the overlap of two physical states – ‘The Observers’ unites two different perspectives within itself. In this way, the artwork translates scientific concepts such as simultaneity and the change of state through observation into an artistic interpretation.
Furthermore, the freestanding work in front of the PhoQS Lab takes up the motif of the wave – a central element in both physics and art. Modelled grass waves create a visual connection to the laboratory building and emphasise the dialogue between art and science.
Competition organised by the BLB NRW
An ‘Art and Architecture’ competition was launched for the artistic design. In February, the judging panel – comprising representatives from the worlds of art, architecture, and Paderborn University – unanimously elected the design ‘The Observers’ by Berlin-based artist Alona Rodeh for realisation. The aim of the competition was to create a site-specific artistic design for the outdoor space that connects the new building with the campus and brings to life the dialogue between architecture, landscape and research.
The PhoQS Lab
With a gross floor area of 7,950 square metres, Paderborn University’s PhoQS Lab – which officially opened in February – comprises four full storeys and a mezzanine level for technical installations. A distinctive feature is the structural separation of the office and laboratory wings by a building joint, designed to enable vibration-free measurements in the laboratory area. The most sensitive equipment and measuring instruments rest on specially decoupled foundations that lie directly on the rocky subsoil, thereby minimising vibrations. A cleanroom area of around 1,000 square metres ensures a clean environment with precise control of temperature, humidity, and particle levels. Even during the project and application phase, the PhoQS Lab was awarded the top rating of ‘outstanding’ by The German Science and Humanities Council, which provides recommendations on research policy. On this basis, approval was granted by the Joint Science Conference (GWK) in May 2020. The GWK brings together the federal and state ministries of science and finance with the aim of promoting Germany’s performance as a research hub. Their decision is a testament to the supra-regional significance of the PhoQS Lab.
This text was translated automatically.
