AAIE (Association des Artistes Ingénieurs de l’EPFL)
Location
La Diagonale (en face du bâtiment MX)
Category
Exhibitions
Opening: Thursday, October 15, at 12:00 p.m.
Exhibition on view through December 10, 2026
By and in collaboration with the AAIE (Association of Artist-Engineers at EPFL)
Rain is essential to the cycle of life. Yet we often forget its importance. The Petrichor installation aims to restore rain’s central role and heighten its presence.
The installation consists of two parts:
One part is funnel-shaped (approximately 1 m x 1 m by 2.20 m), which collects rainwater while amplifying its sound, and a second part is cabinet-shaped, which stores and measures the water. The funnel collects rainwater over a surface area of 1 m², serving as an analogy for a flower—the bromeliad—which naturally collects rainwater. The water is then channeled into the second part of the installation.
The second part is a wooden cabinet containing 63 plastic containers, each holding 5 liters. All the containers are connected to one another by a system of pipes; the rainwater fills the containers in the cabinet from the bottom up. The 10 containers at the bottom of the cabinet are marked in blue, representing the minimum daily water consumption for one person according to the WHO, which is 50 liters. The containers above them—totaling 263 liters—represent the average water consumption of a person in Switzerland, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office. This cabinet highlights the contrast between these two volumes. By relating these figures to the collected rainwater, the installation demonstrates that water remains a limited resource and is therefore a major challenge for the world today and in the future.
The installation has aesthetic and auditory elements designed to enliven the campus and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. Its goal is to encourage students to reflect on water usage and spark new ideas for managing this resource.
Launched in 2025, Petrichor is a project developed by the AAIE association, which aims to build a community around contemporary art on campus by organizing meetings with artists and museum outings. The association also provides students with opportunities to develop their own artistic creations.
