This year, the Atomium is celebrating its 20th anniversary since major renovation work was concluded in 2006. A 20th anniversary programme of events will run all year. The focus is on digital art, public events and will include a birthday gift for visitors celebrating their birthday on 18 February 2006.
It was almost seventy years ago that the Atomium was built for the Expo 58, the world exhibition. Inspired by an atom of iron, its nine spheres represent Belgium’s erstwhile nine provinces and the strength of the country. The Atomium was the symbol of Expo 58 and has become an icon of Belgium.
The renovation of the monument took three years and cost 27.5 million euros. Since its reopening in 2006, it has continued to appeal to the general public. The monument retains “its ability to surprise and bring people together”, says Geoffroy Coomans de Brachène, the Atomium’s chair.
A programme entitled “Brilliant Since 2006”, allows the Atomium to present various attractions including three new digital art installations, a new season of the “Renovation” podcast and a science weekend for young visitors. The icing on the cake is free admission for anyone whose birthday is on 18 February 2006, the same day as the monument's reopening.
Digital art installations
Since 2013, the Atomium has been eager to display digital art with several light and sound installations. As part of the twentieth anniversary celebrations following the renovation, three new installations will be unveiled on 14 February: Nimbus, Supply Chain and Rotonde.
‘All the installations engage in dialogue with the building,’ says Arnaud Bozzini, exhibition director at the Atomium. ‘We have been working with Visual System for more than 10 years now. You could even say that the Atomium is almost a laboratory for their work, especially when it comes to digital art in relation to a heritage building.’
'Nimbus', developed by Visual System, reinterprets the shapes of the Atomium. Visitors move between light and sound, to the music of an original composition by Thomas Vaquié.
The installation Supply Chain, a digital and physical installation by Romain Tardy, combines mirrors, mobile LED screens, light beams and sound creating what is labelled an immersive experience with a musical composition by Le Motel.
“Rotonde”, is a permanent light and sound installation around the lower dome of the Atomium created by Dirty Monitor. The installation runs in a 20-minute cycle projecting LED lines in 360 degrees. This gives the Atomium a clear visual identity in the evening as well.
Science for youngsters
Later this year, on 25 and 26 September, the Atomium is organising a weekend of scientific discoveries for young visitors. During that weekend, the entrance fee to the Atomium will be waived. The Atomium is joining forces with the Flemish Free University of Brussels, the VUB and the Francophone Free University of Brussels, the ULB. Extra attention will be paid to contemporary research and the role of women in science.
Smurfs and gold and blue
The Atomium is also collaborating with various other partners. The anniversary is being celebrated in a particularly playful way with several projects in blue and gold, the colours of Brussels, in collaboration with the Smurfs and the Brussels jewellery designer Souris. Manneken Pis will also be given a new costume for the occasion.
"Renovation" podcast
The anniversary also sees the launch of the second season of the podcast “Renovation”. This series features people who were involved in the renovation of the Atomium including engineers and ordinary workers as well as local residents. The podcast offers a personal perspective on this chapter in the monument's history.