Exhibit «In the Pasteur Library with Hervé Di Rosa » come take a look at some « noteworthy » scientific objects !

The "Salle des Actes" is a place of major historical significance for the Institut Pasteur. It is where the official opening ceremony took place in 1888, and since then it has hosted countless meetings of governing bodies, receptions for major donors, conferences and functions. But back in 1887, this "multi-purpose" hall was actually designed to house the Institut Pasteur library. The Salle des Actes still has all its original display cases and shows a selection of items that once belonged to Louis Pasteur, artifacts, medals, certificates, and historical and more recent accounts from those with a link to the Institut Pasteur.

Inspired by a meeting with contemporary French artist Hervé Di Rosa, founder and director of the International Museum of Modest Arts in Sète, the Institut Pasteur has decided to give a new lease of life to this wonderful place of memory by modernizing the content and redesigning the display cases in the Salle des Actes. Hervé Di Rosa, a member of the Organoid project – which aims to forge links between art and science – was given the task of reorganizing and rethinking the narrative behind the display cases.

The French artist, who is fascinated by the Pasteur Museum and the Salle des Actes in particular, came up with the idea of a scientific and artistic exhibition that combines the history of Louis Pasteur and the scientists that succeeded him – together with their techniques and discoveries – with his own hybrid, multifaceted, fantastic artistic creations. The display cases will soon house a new selection of objects, photos and artifacts, mostly from the Pasteur Museum's collections and archives, alongside a major series of painted ceramic art (plates and pots) specially created by Hervé Di Rosa. The artist will also design some unique "wallpaper" to decorate some of the display cases. The aim of this project is to showcase Pasteurian tradition and history in a modern context.

The project leaders have decided to launch a special appeal to Institut Pasteur staff for historical or more recent scientific objects, books, photos, 3D models, etc. that might be included in the newly designed cases. If you have any objects that you think might fit the brief and you would like to see them housed in a display case, please send a photo to olivier.schwartz@pasteur.fr and stephanie.colin@pasteur.fr by November 24. The artist will make a selection of objects to be included in the upcoming exhibition entitled "In the Pasteur library with Hervé Di Rosa".

Happy hunting!