Exhibition “Connecting Science and Art” Held at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

A poster named “Ge,” by Tsung- Dao Lee is on display at the exhibition “Connecting Science and Art” at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. — Wang Rongjiang

Science and art often seem to develop in separate silos, but many thinkers are inspired by both, which involve ideas, theories, and hypotheses that are tested in places where mind and hand come together — the laboratory and the studio.

Seeing that science and art naturally overlap, an exhibition titled “Connecting Science and Art” recently opened at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.

It features 84 original works from artists and scientists, including paintings, sculptures and installations. Among them is a poster named “Ge” designed by highly acclaimed physician Tsung-Dao Lee. In May, 1987, Professor Lee personally made a thematic design for the first international symposium of the China Center of Advanced Science and Technology.

The Chinese character in the design is the calligraphy of Lee, which means “lattice” or “measurement,” implying that one can get an understanding of all things by thorough inspection. The background is the circuit diagram of the Columbia Parallel processor dedicated to the study of lattice gauge theory.

In addition to the artworks, some of the design scripts and letters between scientists and artists are also on display to show how theories and materials are transformed into informative art practices.

Albert Einstein once wrote: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. So the unknown, the mysterious, are where art and science meet.”

Date: Through May 28 (closed on Mondays),
9am-5:15pm

Venue: 2/F, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

Address: 2000 Century Ave, Pudong New Area