Amplifier for Art, Science and Society
Exhibition

Aetherocohedron | EL.BA

Josua Putzke | Alison Martin

18.10.9.11.2024

The exhibition presents a premiere of two works resulting from an intense collaboration between resident artists Josua Putzke and Alison Martin and the Geometric Computing Laboratory at EPFL, led by Mark Pauly, as part of the third edition of the EPFL-CDH Artist Residency Program, Enter the Hyper-Scientific.


Josua Putzke

Aetherocohedron

Immersing visitors in a dynamic environment, Aetherocohedron is a kinetic installation that offers an intuitive understanding of the concept that all elements and forces in the universe are fundamentally interconnected, constantly transforming while maintaining a coherent structure.


The exploration of geometric forms within a synergistic system of intertwined elements generates a powerful symbol evoking ancient wisdom, mathematical principles, and modern concepts of interconnection and transformation. Aetherocohedron serves as a bridge between the tangible and intangible aspects of reality — a bridge from which we can visualize and contemplate the fundamental nature of the universe.


  • Josua Putzke

Josua Putzke is a designer and artist fascinated by the interface between the human mind and our mechanical reality — between the organic and the technical. He uses a variety of materials, machines, geometries, and mechanics to explore patterns and ideas. He earned a degree in Product Design from the University of the Arts in Berlin, where he learned digital design and production tools as well as sciences, philosophy, and design history.


Exhibition views of Aetherocohedron by Josua Putzke
Photos: Remy Ugarte Vallejos

Alison Martin

EL.BA

Alongside their use in constructing spaces, textiles can form spatial structures that reveal relationships between shape, material, and function. el.ba is a sculptural exploration of how flexible beams and elastic fabric can create a complex, curved minimal surface through a delicate balance of forces. It aims to transport the viewer’s gaze to a new perspective and make mathematical concepts more accessible through physical experience.


In architectural and sculptural design, observing physical mechanisms and aspects of softness and flexibility enables a more targeted approach to shaping surfaces. This cross-disciplinary and cross-scale collaboration between Alison Martin and the Geometric Computing Laboratory brings together scientific endeavor and artisanal practice.


  • Alison Martin

Alison Martin studied graphic design and visual communication at Exeter College of Art and St. Martin's College of Art and Design. Her work involves analyses of geometry and topology in traditional weaving patterns and takes various perspectives on the dynamic dimensions of fiber entanglement, interlacing, braiding, and classical weaving.


Exhibition views of el.ba by Alison Martin
Photos: Remy Ugarte Vallejos

  • Enter the Hyper-Scientific

Initiated by the EPFL College of Humanities (CDH), amplified by EPFL Pavilions, and in partnership with the City of Lausanne, the EPFL-CDH Artist-in-Residence (AiR) Program Enter the Hyper-Scientific reflects the CDH mission of fostering transdisciplinary encounters and collaborations between artists and EPFL’s scientific community. The program invites professional Swiss and international artists for three-month residencies to realize innovative and visionary projects at the intersection of art, science, and advanced technologies.