The Exhibition Site of "Energy and Civilization: Science & Art·Future Fusion"
This autumn, science and art quietly meet at the art museum. Step into the first-floor hall of the CAFA Art Museum, and don't forget to look up – a "sun" is shining brightly above, waiting to meet your gaze.
"Artificial Sun" Installation
This is exactly the Artificial Sun installation. It uses optical fiber equipment outside the building to channel outdoor sunlight into the art museum through 60 high-purity optical fibers. Then, through concentrated light projection, it creates a 5-meter-diameter "artificial sun". The light transmission efficiency of this large-scale installation is as high as 95%.
When the sun shines intensely, you will see a "little sun" with clear boundaries and high brightness. When clouds obscure the sunlight, the "hanging sun" inside the art museum becomes soft and hazy, like a warm halo.
This not only restores the energy form of sunlight but also echoes the seawater scene in the exhibition hall, helping audiences intuitively understand the enormous potential of nuclear fusion energy, jointly creating a poetic and even somewhat mysterious artistic atmosphere.
And not far from this "sun", another magical cosmic scene is unfolding...
Aurora Simulation Installation "USTC Aurora-1"
The aurora simulation installation "USTC Aurora-1" is China's first laboratory device for simulating auroras on the ground. It utilizes high-voltage plasma discharge to generate high-energy particles, and ingeniously uses spherical magnets as discharge electrodes while simulating the magnetic field on the surface of planets, thereby creating a variety of changing aurora phenomena.
The principle of aurora generation on Earth is that the geomagnetic field traps high-energy charged particles from the magnetosphere and solar wind. Subsequently, these charged particles collide and ionize with gas molecules in the atmosphere, ultimately producing auroras. The different colors of auroras are related to the components in the gas; for example, the ionization of nitrogen in the air produces a pink color, while the ionization of oxygen produces a greenish light.
This installation reproduces the entire process of aurora generation, which is equivalent to "moving" the phenomenon that occurs in the natural space into the installation. On this basis, the installation also uses transparent quartz glass to make the vacuum chamber, which enhances the presentation effect of the brilliant auroras generated by the discharge.
To ensure that every audience member can have the best viewing experience, "USTC Aurora-1" – China's first ground-based aurora simulation installation – will conduct demonstrations at scheduled intervals. Please arrange your schedule properly and be sure to refer to the following performance schedule when coming to watch:
We look forward to your arrival, and hope you will gain your own autumn adventure in the collision of art and science at "Energy and Civilization – Science & Art·Fusion Future"!
Regarding the Exhibition
Energy and Civilization – Science & Art·Fusion Future
Exhibition Venue: 1st Floor Exhibition Hall, CAFA Art Museum
Exhibition Duration: September 14, 2025 - October 12, 2025
Translator: ZHANG Xinni
Reviewer: LIU Qingchen
