4-11 May, 2026
Microorganisms, bacteria, and root systems have inspired musicians, dancers, and photographers. Lake Geneva is performed as a cyborg organism. A film tells the story of an iconic sculpture of the campus. Chopin is performed by talented students. Other students create a surrealist film on identity, while another group develops a performance based on improvisation. A guided tour takes us through the history of the School of Architecture and showcases paintings by students. A wandering performance invites us to experience our everyday spaces differently.
Performance, cinema, music, dance, photography, and exhibitions offer us a sensitive experience and a form of knowledge essential for understanding the world, and for imagining new possibilities.
Program
MOTO
Monday, May 4, 2026 – 12:00 Concert performance | MED Hall
Free admission – Vegetarian snack available upon registration
MOTO draws on the sounds of nature and root system drawings to create a piece where contemporary music, electronics, and improvisation intertwine. Inspired by the Root System Drawings atlas , the musicians generate polyrhythms while live drawings visually extend this exploration of the living world.
Bleue Saignante
Monday, May 4, 2026 – 6:30 PM Opening | SG Foyer and Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – 7:30 PM Film Screening.
Free admission.
Bleue Saignante by the Archipel collective combines a surrealist film and an exhibition retracing its creation. The medium-length film explores identity, the body, and transhumanism, while photos and objects reveal costumes, sets, and the filming process.
DÆNCITY 2026 – performance
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – 12:00 | Hall SG
Free admission
DÆNCITY 2026 brings together around twenty students for an artistic residency at Sévelin 36. Guided by Noémie Cuérel and Matthieu Ruf, they explore dance, improvisation, and the role of artistic practices in their education. Presented at Les Culturelles, the performance sets in motion collective reflection and student creativity.
Guided tour of two exhibitions
Tuesday, May 5 – 5:30 p.m. | Archizoom, SG Building
Free admission
A guided tour links two Archizoom exhibitions: the history of the School of Architecture through its archives “From Cedars to Dorigny, building the School of Architecture”, and the didactic paintings of the Cantàfora Workshop, revealing drawing and design as essential languages “An education in reality, the Cantàfora Workshop at EPFL” .
Dé-en-bulle – Health walk (two departures)
Walks – two dates to choose from: Wednesday, May 6 – 9:00 am or Friday, May 8 – 12:00 pm.
Departure: under the archway at the RLC entrance.
A guided walk led by Simona Ferrar invites participants to experience the volumes, sounds, and textures of the campus. Through observation and movement, participants rediscover their environment and cultivate mindful presence in everyday life.
Le Léman Cyborg – Performance
Thursday, May 7, 2026 – 12:00 | Foyer SG
Free admission
Léman Cyborg blends texts, archives, and soundscapes to tell the story of the lake as a living being transformed by its infrastructure. The performance explores its vital functions, its vulnerabilities, and our collective imagination.
Rahel Oberhummer – exhibition
May 7, 2026 – 6:30 p.m. Opening | Rolex Forum Hall
Exhibition on view until October 11, 2026 – Free admission
Rahel Oberhummer’s Unearthed project explores the growth of 12,000-year-old microorganisms from Alpine permafrost, collected by the WSL. Methodically cultivated and photographed, they reveal evolution, interactions, and survival dynamics. Two series of images document microbial monocultures and co-habitations, bridging art and science.
Chopin Student Competition – Concert
Saturday, May 9, 2026 – 4:30 PM | RLC Forum
Free admission
The Pôle Cultural is launching grants for student artistic projects and is supporting the 2026 Chopin Competition. The final brings together musicians from several universities, with prizes, masterclasses and a concert offered by Lavaux Classic.
A l’aune – Dance and projection
Monday, May 11 – 12:00 | Ada Lovelace Square (in case of rain: SG Foyer)
Free admission.
À l’aune plunges six dancers into a slowed-down world inspired by microorganisms. Between performing arts and science, the performance explores ecosystems, biological temporalities, and coexistence, accompanied by a projection of microscopic images.
Elément blanc – Film and Discussion
Monday, May 11, 2026 – 6:30 PM | Forum Rolex
Free admission
The disappearance of Element blanc, an iconic sculpture by Owsky Kobalt, inspires a film by Bastien Genoux retracing its history and uses. A roundtable discussion will further explore the themes of art, campuses, and heritage.
Organization: Pôle Culture within the Vice Presidency for Innovation and Impact (VPI)
Contact: Véronique Mauron Layaz