Visualizing the invisible!

For years, the Roche Innovation Center Zurich has been focusing its research on the antibody, an important part of the human immune system and, simultaneously, the scientists’ hope in fighting disease. This is why they wanted a work of art linked to this research topic to embellish the lobby of the new RICZ Tower. Only visible under an electron microscope, this body had to be realized and expanded from 10 nanometers by a factor of almost 3 billion.
Visitors are now welcomed by an artistic representation of the antibody built to scale, which is delicately and carefully composed of thousands of individual parts – just as the human antibody consists of thousands of amino acids.
The winding protein chains resemble wings extending 
upwards. These, in turn, are the receptors of antigens. Therefore, the antibody is perceived as the “WINGS OF HOPE”.

“My intention was to express my fascination for the miracle of the Great Design in this sculpture.”
Tanja Bürgelin-Arslan

WINGS OF HOPE
Roche Innovation Center Zurich, 2019
Commissioned by: Roche Innovation Center Zurich
Artist: Tanja Bürgelin-Arslan
Materials: maple, oak, stainless steel
Individual parts: 50.010 pieces
Dimensions: 230 x 124,5 x 284 cm
(L x W x H)
Wooden Space Frame (Raumfachwerk in Holz): David Muspach, architect/ inventor, originator and licensor
Exclusive License for the use of Wooden Space Frame (Raumfachwerk in Holz) in art: Tanja Bürgelin-Arslan; production of wooden parts Vebo Genossenschaft Oensingen (CH)
Zu dieser Arbeit gibt es ein Video.