Navigating the Art-Science Interface: Lessons from the "Of Each Absence" Art Exhibition

Connecting science and art, presenting climate change from an unusual perspective, initiating dialogue, and offering alternative viewpoints were the main goals of the art exhibition “Of Each Absence” organized by ETH Zurich in collaboration with the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ETH outreach event “Klimarunde”. ETH-Klimarunde is a flagship public event organized annually by the Center for Climate Systems Modeling (C2SM) of ETH Zurich. It serves as a vital platform that fosters direct dialogue between scientific experts and the Swiss public on critical climate change issues. The artworks were created especially for this occasion by eight students of the Master of Fine Arts program at ZHdK. The artists were given creative autonomy while receiving guidance from ETH climate scientists, facilitating a symbiotic relationship that enhanced the connection between the artworks and climate change concepts.

The presentation addresses the successes and challenges of navigating the uncharted territory of this interdisciplinary collaboration between C2SM and ZHdK. It underscores the importance of open communication, mutual respect, and the harnessing of diverse perspectives to create – besides the artwork itself - a  joint language of science and art to address the topic of climate change in a truly extraordinary way.