Since ancient times, human beings have gazed at the stars and have explored the universe. Early astronomical records carved on animal bones, Tang dynasty star maps preserved in the scrolls of the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, and the Planisphere Stele engraved during the Southern Song dynasty—all bear witness to our ongoing exploration of the cosmos. Since entering the 20th century, with the advancement of science and technology, scientists have discovered that the universe is dynamic and ever-changing. They have even calculated the origin of the universe: the Big Bang, which occurred 13.8 billion years ago. Today, cutting-edge projects such as the Squre Kilometre Array (SKA), China's Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continue to push us towards a panoramic scan of the cosmos.
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of China-Switzerland diplomatic relations, the National Museum of China, in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in China and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, jointly presents this exhibition. The exhibition consists of four sections: "Instruments and Technologies – Mapping the Cosmos", "The Starry Sky of Big Data", "Sustainable Space", and "The Future – Interstellar Journeys". It integrates scientific exploration and artistic interpretation by presenting real, scattered, and abstract cosmic data—collected through various instruments and represented via various media, including interactive digital installations, kinetic sculptures, and speculative design. Among these exhibits are reflections on the relationship between humans, the Earth, and the universe; visual studies on cosmic data and imagery; as well as exploration on space sustainability and future human survival in space. This exhibition is not only a fruitful outcome of international and interdisciplinary collaboration in contemporary scientific research, but also constructs a historical narrative of humanity's exploration of the universe from multiple perspectives.
Our universe is vast and boundless, and humanity's journey of exploration if infinite. Let us step into the exhibition with curiosity and reverence for the universe, to uncover the mysteries of the cosmos, to contemplate the meaning of life, and to seek the primordial light that first shone 13.8 billion years ago.