It was almost seventy years ago that the Atomium was built for the Expo 58, the world exhibition. Inspired by an atom of iron, its nine spheres represent Belgium’s erstwhile nine provinces and the strength of the country. The Atomium was the symbol of Expo 58 and has become an icon of Belgium.
The renovation of the monument took three years and cost 27.5 million euros. Since its reopening in 2006, it has continued to appeal to the general public. The monument retains “its ability to surprise and bring people together”, says Geoffroy Coomans de Brachène, the Atomium’s chair.
A programme entitled “Brilliant Since 2006”, allows the Atomium to present various attractions including three new digital art installations, a new season of the “Renovation” podcast and a science weekend for young visitors. The icing on the cake is free admission for anyone whose birthday is on 18 February 2006, the same day as the monument’s reopening.
Digital art installations
Since 2013, the Atomium has been eager to display digital art with several light and sound installations. As part of the twentieth anniversary celebrations following the renovation, three new installations will be unveiled on 14 February: Nimbus, Supply Chain and Rotonde.
‘All the installations engage in dialogue with the building,’ says Arnaud Bozzini, exhibition director at the Atomium. ‘We have been working with Visual System for more than 10 years now. You could even say that the Atomium is almost a laboratory for their work, especially when it comes to digital art in relation to a heritage building.’
‘Nimbus’, developed by Visual System, reinterprets the shapes of the Atomium. Visitors move between light and sound, to the music of an original composition by Thomas Vaquié.
