Beijing sci-art exhibition bridges science and humanity

"Human exploration of the universe and protection of territories are essentially driven by the same impulse — 'go out, see clearly, and bring back,'" Xiao Ning, executive editor-in-chief of Weapon magazine, said. "This Universe section shows me not only the beauty of science art, but also the enduring human drive to push frontiers."

On the other side of the exhibition area, prints of the 12 zodiac constellations are arrayed in sequence, visually translating the cultural meanings and astronomical facts behind them.

"It is the first time I see both the scientific coordinates and mythological stories of constellations in a single set of prints," Knowledge blogger Ma Yan said. "Science seeks truth, while art seeks beauty, and constellations are among the earliest creations where humanity combined the two. When Ptolemy recorded the star catalog 2000 years ago, he was practicing astronomy as well as writing poetry."

"From the astrologers of Mesopotamia to the philosophers of Ancient Greece, every civilization once looked up at the exact same starry sky, yet each offered a different story," Deng Haichun, an author in the field of history, said. "Zhao Chuang and Yang Yang present these stories alongside modern science in the same paintings, allowing audiences to see mythology and fact, imagination and evidence simultaneously. This capacity for a 'dual gaze' is precisely what is most scarce in this day and age."