In JNR Cultural Centre "Mir"

Invitation to philosophize

On 10 February, an exhibition of the JINR Artists' Club "Quarks-Sparks" called "Philosophical soup" opened in the Cultural Centre "Mir". The exposition is timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of JINR. The artistic investigation was dedicated to the subtle interweaving of two worlds: science and a person. A stable world of objective laws and a changeable inner world of a person with his doubts, prejudices and insights.

Deputy Director of the JINR Cultural Centre "Mir", the curator of the exhibition Elena Troyan said in her welcoming speech, "The exhibition invites everyone to look at the inner world of the researcher, at the difficulties and successes accompanying the birth of new ideas. The authors of the exhibition suggest thinking about the nature of scientific knowledge and about the influence of the personality and qualities of a scientist on the course of research." Elena emphasized, "We really love the exhibitions of the JINR Artists' Club "Quarks-Sparks" because they are sincere, made especially for this space and especially for you and me." She also emphasized the importance of reading explanations for the paintings: "They set out concepts that give a deeper understanding of art objects."

JINR Chief Scientific Secretary Sergey Nedelko highlighted the changing style and even fashion trends in the Club's exhibitions, "Two years ago, we noticed features of socialist realism, today, it seems that we see science-art."

Head of SIM Office Andrey Tamonov expressed gratitude to all the artists for their artwork and the work done in order for this exhibition to be held. In his speech, Andrey Tamonov shared, "I repeat once again, it is very nice to see the work of our employees within these walls. There is always special warmth and comfort. It is surprising that every year, this exhibition is not just transformed but becomes completely different. It is impressive how the attitude and self-expression change in the same artists. We will enjoy this exhibition and look forward to what will happen next!"

The artist and Head of the Club Anastasia Zlobina said in her speech on the occasion of the opening, "We have put a lot of effort into this exhibition. We have worked day and night, sawed and nailed, poured paint, invented and changed everything on the go. We put our soul into each of our exhibitions. This time, we are exhibiting new talented physics artists. Such as, Nikita Moiseev has a big debut, literally, half of the hall! We made the exhibition interactive so that everyone could participate in it. I invite everyone to take a closer look, to enjoy the exhibition and of course, to reflect on the eternal: about the world, about life, about science, about everything that comes to mind."

A trainee researcher from BLTP Nikita Moiseev commented on his creative debut, "I came to work in JINR in July and immediately joined the Art Club. In addition to physics, I like to draw and I studied at Art School. We have been preparing for the exhibition for seven months. Five of my paintings are exhibited here, each has its own idea. They all mean a lot to me, I put a lot of work into them."

At the exhibition, you can see bizarre figures from ceramics, voluminous paintings, architectural structures, fabric drawings and a woven carpet. An entertaining interactive is provided, in which you need to find out what is in the black box, first, after reading a complex scientific description and afterwards, sticking your hand inside. Just painting on canvas is also there, but you should not expect classics from style and plot. There is complete freedom of imagination. A little man flying into a thick, undulating gap. A strange dream from laboratory experiments when one falls asleep right at the work desk. Observation of cosmic landscapes. Mermaids in leopard color. On the screens in the hall, you can see records of work processes in preparation for this exhibition. Special attention deserves the painting of Anastasia Zlobina called "Collector". The prefigure was the magnet collector Sergey Morozov from the building 217 of VBLHEP. According to the artist, she portrayed a philosopher that sits at lunchtime and reflects on the fate of humanity. However, she doesn't mind everyone seeing something different. In the painting, you can really see several philosophical meanings. The tired collector folded his hands on his knees, but what had he collected - an accelerator or the world?! In a dense dark space, a circle is shining like a symbol of infinity - being or knowledge?!

Maria KARPOVA
Photo by the author