KU Leuven has created an art and science route to mark its 600th anniversary. The route guides visitors past 16 works of art and poems in the city that embody the relationship between art and science through contemporary themes.
The route has been constructed by inviting artists to speak to scientists from various faculties at the university. The artists learned what the scientists are working on and the themes that form part of their research.
These conversations resulted in eight visual artworks and eight poems, which can be found at well-known and lesser-known locations throughout the city.
The route is called And So, Change Comes in Waves, referring to the ocean. “You cannot isolate a wave from the sea: it is part of a larger whole,” says curator Stéphane Symons. “It’s also difficult to determine exactly where and how a wave takes shape and how it reaches the shore: this is comparable to technological innovations and scientific research. It is just as unpredictable and dynamic.”
Artist Sammy Baloji created an installation depicting an enlarged uranium crystal, referring to Belgium’s role in the development of the first atomic bomb. Poet Maud Vanhauwaert, who also curated the poetry section, wrote a poem whose lines have been scattered across various locations in the city.
The walk is 5.5km long and takes 3.5 hours to complete. It can also be done by bike. It will be presented to the public on Saturday with a series of guided tours, conversations with the artists and performances.