Press
release
Placing an emphasis on artistic creation, science and industry,
“The Aluminium Age” exhibition, which opened its doors
on June 10, 2003 at the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie,
traces the history of a metal that since its invention, now more
than 150 years ago, embodies the futuristic ambitions of a society
characterized by scientific and technological advances.
"The Aluminium Age” exhibition is carried out with the
support of the Pechiney group, one of the world leaders in the Aluminium
industry and that of the Fondation Alcoa.
Totally innovative, the visual presentation of “The Aluminium
Age" exhibition is set up in an 800 m2 (8610 ft2) space, in
the center of two different areas that complement one another and
interpenetrate. The fist part of the exhibition “Aluminium
in Shapes” is a traveling exhibition containing a unique collection
of items brought together by the Carnegie Museum of Art of Pittsburgh.
The second part, “Aluminium on the Scene,” a scientific
and technological counterpoint, offers a more lighthearted approach
to the identity of aluminium, its intrinsic properties, as well
as its industrial applications. The exhibition’s progression
links, in turn, artistic and scientific discovery.
A truly artistic display, “Aluminium in Shapes”,
presents the visitor with a chronological path. In a large three-dimensional
layout, defined by a bed of red ore (bauxite, the base material
for aluminium), a 163 item collection – ranging from the firs
aluminium objects that date from the middle of the 19th century
to the most modern creations – traces the history of aluminium
in four parts.
• Aluminium’s invention recounts the beginnings of an
unknown adventure, that of the birth of this metal under the auspices
of science. Valuable objects reveal an age when aluminium was rare
and difficult to manufacture. Its price was near that of gold.
• The modern ideal goes back to the beginnings of aluminium’s
industrial era. Given its unique properties and artistic appeal,
aluminium perfectly reflects the modernity that society strived
to embrace between the two World Wars.
• Conflict and competition demonstrates how, since the end
of World War II, manufacturers have set out to conquer new markets.
The main contributions here are industrial inventions and innovations,
shown in order to portray aluminium in a new light to a wider audience.
THE ALUMINIUM AGE exhibition, on display from June 10th to November
2nd, 2003, presents the complete tale of the discovery of aluminium,
and of its incredible properties.
• Crossing Borders examines the industrial research for high
tech implementation as a source of new inspiration. Thanks to the
work of designers like Phillipe Stark or fashion designers such
as Paco Rabanne or Issey Miyake, aluminium is continually present
in everyday items as well as in the most extraordinary designs.
The second part of the exhibition, “Aluminium on the
Scene” puts the finishing touches on this presentation
of the uses of aluminium via a lighthearted and interactive exploration
of its properties and technological issues related to its manufacturing.
Visitors have the opportunity to pursue their investigation of five
main themes, in a display area that is sparse and simple, accentuated
by columns made of aluminium ingots:
• The curiosity corner unmasks aluminium’s identity
using an exhibition that requires visitors to be observant. In particular,
they will learn, that even if aluminium is omnipresent in nature,
it doesn’t exist in a pure form on Earth. Recent scientific
research, explained by astrophysicist Michel Cassé, sheds
light on the idea that contrarily, it could be present in the stars…
• Production line details the complex aluminium manufacturing
process. From bauxite ore to aluminium, each vital production stage
is explained using chemistry and electricity.
• Discovery center is designed as a game center, where the
visitor can become a scientist and carry out experiments to discover
some the amazing and unique properties of aluminium, first and foremost
its light weight.
• The laboratory presents a domain that is both unknown and
essential: the science of alloys. Aluminium is extremely malleable.
This characteristic is a plus in some areas, but can be a serious
handicap when a strong stress resistance is required. Thanks to
metallurgy, aluminium’s properties can be significantly modified
by adding small quantities of other elements and by appropriate
treatments. A multimedia game allows the visitor to take the place
of the metallurgist to find the perfect mix of alloys needed to
create four different items.
• As for the Moving platform, it illustrates the predominant
role of aluminium in many areas related to transportation, thought
a series of objects that reflect technical nature and know-how.
An animation program offers narrated tours, thematic approaches,
and demonstration and discovery workshops to enrich the visitor’s
knowledge, but also to take up the various vital debates and questions
raised by this industry.
“The Aluminium Age” exhibition has received financial
support for “Aluminium in Shapes” from the Fondation
Alcoa .”Aluminium in Shapes” is an adaptation of the
exhibition “Aluminium by design” created by the Carnegie
Museum of Art of Pittsburgh. Audi of America, Inc, the Roy A. Hunt
and Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, as well as the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania have also contributed to this part of the exhibition.
“The Aluminium Age” and its “Aluminium on the
Scene” exhibition have received financial support from the
Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (the French National Space
Research Center) from the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace
(Aerospace Museum) and from the Institut pour l’histoire de
l’aluminium (Aluminium History Institute).
“The Aluminium Age” exhibition is presented thanks to
the support of the Pechiney group.
Press Information: Anabelle Hagmann +331 40 05
72 65 or +331 40 05 75 00 a.hagmann@cite-sciences.fr
General Information: +331 40 05 80 00 or www.cite-sciences.fr
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