Cosmos Archaeology: Exploring the Universe through Art and Science
In 2024, Cosmos Archaeology: Exploring the Universe Through Art and Science, a project initiated by Swissnex in China, stood out as a key highlight of Sino-Swiss collaboration. The initiative aimed to expand a previous exhibition at EPFL Pavilions with the voices of Chinese scientists and artists, thereby creating an entirely new experience, transforming complex astronomical data into multisensory experiences. Swissnex in China brought together EPFL Pavilions, the Shanghai Astronomy Museum and various scientists, artists, curators, museologists and founders. Over 18 months, all the partners worked closely together to bring the newly designed exhibition to life. Cosmos Archaeology showcases the creative potential of international and interdisciplinary partnerships. The exhibition welcomed over 73,000 visitors. Further testimony to it sucess, the exhibition went on display in Guangzhou, with more destinations planned in China for 2025.
The collaboration also inspired a series of side events and discussions around sustainability, creativity, and science. Highlights included the Cosmic Dialogue Series, where artists and scientists delved into the intersection of creativity and data, and the Sci-Fi Creative Night with Fudan University, where students reimagined the cosmos through the power of storytelling.
Beyond the exhibition itself, Cosmos Archaeology catalysed the signing of a collaboration agreement between EPFL and Tsinghua University on the joint advancement of the Multi-Spectroscopic Telescope (MUST) which will map the universe’s early structure. The agreement was signed during the visit of the official Swiss scientific delegation in July 2025 (see STE Office highlights).
The closing activities of Cosmos Archaeology marked the culmination of this remarkable initiative.The Sino-Swiss Space Sustainability Workshop, featuring Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier and Chinese taikonaut Jing Haipeng, offered emotional, first-hand insights into the challenges and responsibilities of space exploration.
This ambitious project was made possible through the support of our partners Tsinghua University, the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory CAS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC), Yuanzhen Culture, and Presence Switzerland.
Cosmos Archaeology Opening Symposium: Encounters between Art, Science and the Universe. The symposium was part of the opening activities, it was a discussion showcasing the synergies between art and science. Held at the Zikawai Library in Shanghai, it featured three panels moderated by the exhibition’s curators, each offering a unique perspective on how these two disciplines converge.
