"Nuit Blanche" at the Institut Pasteur: art and science on campus during the evening of Saturday June 7, 2025

As part of its art & science policy, the Institut Pasteur is involved in the "Nuit Blanche" event on June 7, 2025 for the second year running.

Nuit Blanche is an annual arts event organized by Paris City Council to showcase contemporary artistic creation. The event involves a wide range of exhibitions, performances and art installations hosted in museums, cultural institutions and unusual venues, open to the public free of charge late in the evening and for part of the night. To mark the 130th anniversary of cinema (1895), film maker Valérie Donzelli has been appointed as artistic director of this year's edition.

An evening's entertainment designed by the Institut Pasteur in collaboration with two artists

 

A fun and interactive treasure hunt designed by Aristide Barraud will take the public on a journey to discover the history of the Institut Pasteur and some of its major scientific discoveries. Inspired by more than 135 years of research, the treasure hunt will be an opportunity to rediscover the Institut Pasteur and its history. Guided by a map and by volunteer PhD students and staff from the Institut Pasteur, participants will have to find a series of collages hidden around campus and answer several riddles. The tour, lasting around an hour or an hour and a half, involves observation, intuition and problem-solving, giving visitors a glimpse of the world of science from past to present.

 

 

The exhibition "Gloire aux microbes" by Marie-Sarah Adénis in the Institut Pasteur greenhouse offers a counterpoint to the dominant narratives about microbes. After producing a Manifesto during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marie-Sarah Adénis launched her Microscopic Appeal of June 18 (a nod to General de Gaulle's famous Appeal of June 18, 1940 during WWII) to "rally the forces of poetic resistance to combat the overly simplistic view of microbes in people's minds, to remove prejudices and create a new vision." Twelve artists were asked to create works illustrating true stories that seem so fantastical they might be myths or legends. The blue ink used to make these narratives visible is made in an environmentally friendly way – by the microbes themselves! The process was developed by the company Pili, which also supports the project. According to the artist, this is proof that it is possible to address both sides of the environmental crisis – adopting technical solutions while also raising awareness.

Registration and practical information

Registration is required to access the exhibition, including for Institut Pasteur staff. Register by clicking on this link. You will be asked to show an ID document when you arrive.

Place: Institut Pasteur (number 28 side)

Date: Saturday June 7, 2025 

Time: 7pm-midnight

 

Meet the artists before the event on Friday June 6 from 5pm for Institut Pasteur staff

 

Institut Pasteur staff will have the opportunity to enjoy the artworks before everyone else – they will start to be installed on campus midway through the week. The collages will be installed gradually ahead of the treasure hunt on the Saturday, and on Friday June 6 at 5pm the "Glory to microbes" exhibition by Marie-Sarah Adénis will be inaugurated in the greenhouse.

 

After the Nuit Blanche

 

The "Glory to microbes" exhibition will remain in the greenhouse from June 6 to 27 and a discussion session with Marie-Sarah Adénis and Marie Truffier will be held on June 19 from 5.30 to 6.30pm.