Leopoldina becomes a venue for art focused on autonomy - Leopoldina Academy transforms into an art hub with bold new installations

The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina is transforming its Halle headquarters into an art space. Two large-scale installations will explore this year's Annual Assembly theme: Autonomy. The works, set to debut on August 21, were chosen in partnership with the Kunststiftung Sachsen-Anhalt (Art Foundation of Saxony-Anhalt).

The academy selected two distinct projects for its outdoor and indoor spaces. Sculptor Julia Schleicher will present Autonomy of the Doll, an installation featuring oversized cocoons and doll-like figures. Her work examines the hidden transformations inside an insect's protective casing.

Meanwhile, the artist collective Klub7 will create Collective Autonomy, an outdoor piece blending wood, fabrics, sound, and led lights. The installation aims to reflect shared decision-making through interactive elements.

Both artworks will remain on display during the Leopoldina Annual Assembly, scheduled for September 24 and 25. The academy has previously collaborated with institutions like the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, which merged physics and art in projects such as Black Hole Sun.

The installations will open to the public on August 21, ahead of the assembly. Visitors can explore Schleicher's cocoon-inspired sculptures and Klub7's immersive sound-and-light environment. The projects mark the academy's ongoing effort to merge scientific inquiry with contemporary art.