andri pol takes a look inside CERN's swiss headquarters

andri pol takes a look inside CERN’s swiss headquarters
photo © andri pol
all images taken from ‘inside CERN – european organization for nuclear research’ / courtesy of lars müller publishers

since being established in 1952, CERN (european organization for nuclear research) has been an internationally recognized center charged with the considerable task of exploring and understanding the fundamental structure of our universe. located near geneva, close to the franco-swiss border, a team of over 2,500 physicists, engineers and researchers utilize some of the most complex and vast instruments on earth, studying the particles of matter which make up the world around us. the 2,512 members of on-site staff include 1,021 engineers and scientists, 883 technicians, 397 administrators and office staff, 132 craftspeople and 79 research physicists.

photo © andri pol

in july 2012 CERN was in the news as they announced the discovery of the much sought after ‘higgs boson’ particle, often referred to as the ‘god particle’, using their large hadron collider, a giant and pioneering particle accelerator found in a 27km circular tunnel located 100 meters underground.

‘inside CERN – european organization for nuclear research’, a book recently published by lars müller, includes a wide selection of photographs, taken by andri pol, which offer a unique insight into life at the company and a glimpse into the lives of the characters behind one of the world’s most scientifically complex institutions.

scroll down to see further details, as well as designboom’s review of the publication.

photo © andri pol

review: ‘inside CERN – european organization for nuclear research’

generally speaking, the working quarters of high-profile organizations such as CERN are protected, private environments where public attention is not desired or welcomed. however ‘inside CERN’, allows the reader views into the daily lives of the engineers and scientists constantly working in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. renowned swiss photographer andri pol was invited to bring his camera inside the geneva campus, documenting the building and its occupants over an extended period of time.

photo © andri pol

‘we talked about places without pictures, about institutions and facilities in our society that are known but not generally accessible. everyday life in the vatican, the world bank from inside, the people at CERN – can photographs communicate the ordinary, typical, and inimitable qualities of a place? can photographs capture and visualize the aura of science?’ taken from the preface written by lars müller and andri pol.

photo © andri pol

432 pages of the highest image and paper quality include an insightful essay by peter stamm, a writer who spoke at length with many of the organization’s employees, in addition to a text by rolf heuer, director general of CERN. the candid, yet rich photography fully captures the spirit of the workplace and the acute levels of dedication and detail embodied in each member of CERN’s diverse team.

photo © andri pol

throughout the publication, a fascinating juxtaposition is established, contrasting reassuringly familiar scenes with some of the most complex pieces of scientific equipment anywhere in the world – a worker is shown seemingly exasperated by a coffee machine, while another employee is visible taking a sip of water meters from the hadron collider itself. the photographer presents his subjects amongst mountains of stacked books, tangled in webs of cables and immersed in endless scrawls of equations and formulae.

‘inside CERN’ not only documents the inner workings of the company, but also brings to life a previously closeted environment, an intimate and revealing portrait of the people of CERN.

‘inside CERN – european organization for nuclear research’, copyright lars müller publishers

‘inside CERN – european organization for nuclear research’ cover, copyright lars müller publishers

inside CERN – european organization for nuclear research
authors: andri pol, peter stamm and rolf heuer
edited by: lars müller
design: integral lars müller
publisher: lars müller publishers
year: 2014
format: 200 × 275mm
features: paperback, 432 pages
language: english
ISBN: 978-3-03778-275-0

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designboom rating: (excellent, recommended)
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