Axel Straschnoy (born 1978) is a visual artist and filmmaker from Buenos Aires, based in Helsinki. His work deals with the social practices surrounding objects of knowledge.
The Source is a collaborative art and science project based at the European Spallation Source between 2021 and 2026. Combining drawing, photography, neutron activation, public presentations, residencies and guest visits to nuclear research facilities, it develops towards creating a portrait of the world’s most powerful neutron source.
The European Spallation Source (ESS) is poised to become the world’s most powerful accelerator-driven neutron source, offering groundbreaking images and data. Yet, these experiments will unfold deep beneath the surface, invisible to the naked eye, creating the paradox of apparent stillness while unleashing immense power to drive profound transformations.
What does it mean to see under such conditions? What are the hidden structures that frame these experiments? Could such a facility be pushed to its limits—to produce a self-portrait and capture its essence within a plate of gold?