HIDDEN SYMMETRIES IN GLASS WALLS

Invisible to the naked eye, diatoms inhabit the threshold between science and art. These unicellular microalgae are enclosed within fragile silica walls, shaped with a precision that echoes stellar geometry. Hidden jewels of diversity, each cell emerges like a microscopic stained-glass window, refracting light and sustaining life in aquatic ecosystems. They generate oxygen, sequester carbon and support the web of life, silent artisans of planetary balance. Within the perfection of their patterns lies a singular beauty, connecting function and form as an expression of natural intelligence. As we observe them, the gaze of the scientist merges with that of the artist, both in search of the harmony concealed within living matter. Diatoms remind us that art is not merely a human creation, but an ancient language inscribed in the very structure of the Earth,where each cell is a poem of light and symmetry.

This exhibition invites us on a journey of discovery and knowledge into the diatoms of Serralves Park and the wider world, celebrating microscopic worlds of glass and light, revealing their vital role in aquatic ecosystems and their power to inspire. Bringing together the ancient and the contemporary, and combining scientific rigour with artistic expression, the exhibition reveals how different perspectives across time have reminded us of the importance of these invisible worlds, inviting us to rediscover the silent beauty that sustains life on Earth.

The exhibition is developed within the framework of the UNESCO Chair Ocean-Expert – Science Education of Children for Ocean Stewardship: in Support of the Sustainable Ocean Economy at the University of Porto, and curated by Laura Guimarães and Marina Dolbeth of the University of Portoʼs Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), in partnership with the Serralves Foundation - Serralves Park, curated by Helena Freitas and coordinated by Marta Tavares.

The content presented here is the exclusive responsibility of the curators and does not necessarily reflect the views of UNESCO or commit the organisation.