Armin Linke
Instruments of Vision

Over the last century, science has profoundly shaped our world. Technical advancements and concepts such as relativity and quantum mechanics have revolutionized our perception of space, time, and matter. This evolution has been driven by a strong emphasis on experimentation and the development of complex instruments of vision. Furthermore, the interconnectedness of science and the experimental culture of the laboratory has fostered an intricate relationship between experimentation, logic, and scientific knowledge, fundamentally shaping our understanding of nature.

Instruments of Vision departs from conventional contexts, delving into the dynamic interplay between scientific cultures within the laboratory environment, highlighting its central role. Armin Linke has been invited to transform the space of the Igrexa da Universidade, prompting reflection on the intricate intertwining of laboratory life and the dynamics molded by scientific experimentation. Linke’s intervention invites us to observe and participate in the process of scientific inquiry, exploring its spaces, insights, and, ultimately, its impact on our understanding and perceptions of the world.

Over two decades, the artist has portrayed the research spaces of CERN, and has recently been invited to transfer his practice to the IGFAE. In this way, the exhibition takes place within the framework of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of CERN, and twenty-five years of the IGFAE. The images captured by Linke show the contemporary fascination with science, while also recognising that it is in these research spaces where the world is examined through the lens of scientific objectivity. In the baroque setting of the Igrexa da Universidade, it is surprising to come across Linke’s scientific photographs surrounded by this singular and unique atmosphere.

Instruments of Vision also reflects on how science is not a solitary endeavour. Rather, it is shown as a collective effort involving human actors and socially intertwined environments, comprised of research staff, instruments, artefacts and laboratory materials. Through her representation, Linke hints at the fact that science is first and foremost a “compositional process” in which multiple elements come together to shape contemporary understandings of the world.

Curator and art historian, Mónica Bello is head of Arts at CERN, the art programme at CERN, in Geneva. In this role she oversees the lab’s various artistic initiatives, directing the design and implementation of the different artistic programmes, residencies, artistic productions, and exhibitions. Since 2015, she has overseen international collaborations with cultural and scientific institutions to promote innovative encounters between art and science. As a curator, she has recently developed the inaugural exhibition of CERN Science Gateway, Exploring the Unknown, 2023; Dark Matters, at Science Gallery Melbourne, 2023; or Perpetual Motion, for the Icelandic Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, 2022. He is currently preparing the exhibition Quantum Visions for Tabakalera, Donostia, which opens in 2025. Prior to her arrival at CERN, Bello was artistic director of VIDA (2010-15), an international programme dedicated to art and technology at the Fundación Telefónica.