Art and science dialogue between artist Bjørn Nørgaard and AIAS Fellows
A new sculpture by Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard is donated to Aarhus University and AIAS by the New Carlsberg Foundation. On 10 May when the sculpture is officially unveiled, AIAS Fellows will meet with the artist for a dialogue on art, science and justice.
On Monday 10 May, a new sculpture by the Danish sculptor Bjørn Nørgaard will be officially unveiled. The sculpture is entitled ”Ars – Scientia – Justitia” and has been erected at the southern square in the Vennelyst Park between the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS) and the Aarhus University International Centre. The sculpture is donated by the New Carlsberg Foundation to AIAS as a result of counselling from the Art Council at Aarhus University.
Critical, Creative and Independent Thinking in and between Arts, Science and Justice
On Monday 10 May, AIAS has invited Bjørn Nørgaard to visit AIAS for a dialogue with the AIAS research fellows and associate fellows on ‘Critical, Creative and Independent Thinking in and between Arts, Science and Justice’. The Danish scientist H. C. Ørsted stated that a healthy society must rely on critical thinking in art, science, and justice to avoid the pitfalls of individual greed and ambition. This is the underlying theme of Bjørn Nørgaard's new sculpture outside AIAS, a theme that will also inspire the dialogue between the AIAS fellows and Bjørn Nørgaard.
”Artists and scientists are actually closely related. On the basis of knowledge and skills, both artists and scientists are challenging the existing world around us, and point us in new directions. That is why we at AIAS are thrilled by the new sculpture, and we are looking very much forward to the meeting between Bjørn Nørgaard and the AIAS fellows. Here, we are going to discuss how to use imagination and abstraction as working tools in both art and science”.
Use the sculpture
The sculpture exists of a leaning tower surrounded by three human-like figures. The figure 'Ars' symbolises art and is facing the grass and trees of the park. The figure 'Scientia' symbolises science and is thus facing the buildings of the University, while the figure 'Justitia', a symbol of justice, turns towards the city. Bjørn Nørgaard was inspired by the Danish scientist H.C. Ørsted, who believed that the three elements of art, science and justice are the pillars that a modern society is built upon. The artist himself encourages people to use and engage with the sculpture.
Image: Artist Bjørn Nørgaard seated on the figure of ’Ars’ while the new sculpture was being erected in the Vennelyst Park, next to AIAS and the International Centre at Aarhus University.
More about the sculpture and Bjørn Nørgaard here
Read more about Bjørn Nørgaard’s sculpture ”Ars – Scientia – Justitia” here
Contact
Søren Keiding, Executive director and Professor
keiding@aias.au.dk
Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, AIAS
Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B
DK-8000 Aarhus C
Denmark