Symmetries

In front of the graphic canvas entitled "Discovering quasicrystals", a quartz crystal that you can touch and an aluminium-palladium-manganese quasicrystal in a showcase. © C. Rousselin-EPPDCSI
The exhibition is located in the space adjoining the famous Pi Room and continues along the corridor that leads to the "Chemistry" space. © V. Besnard-EPPDCSI
Jean-Marc Castera in front of the mural: Between order and disorder. © C. Rousselin-EPPDCSI
Inspired by certain ancient Arabic and Islamic tilings, also known as "tessellations", this mural is quasi-periodic. © A. Robin-EPPDCSI
In front of the mural, a multimedia terminal invites you to start building a tiling in the manner of Jean-Marc Castera. © C. Rousselin-EPPDCSI
The exhibit "What are its symmetries?" © M. Nascimento-EPPDCSI
"Quelles sont ses symétries ?" - Your turn now to manipulate the pieces on the table to discover what their axes of symmetry are. © MA. Tondu-EPPDCSI
With the exhibit "Turning is reflecting twice", you will realise that the symmetries of any one object are interrelated. © F. Jellaoui-EPPDCSI
Let’s stop for a moment to look at the big graphic canvas dedicated to "Symmetries in the arts". © C. Rousselin-EPPDCSI
This box exhibits a total of 60 symmetries but it would have had 120 if it weren’t for these drawings on each of its faces. © C. Rousselin -EPPDCSI
Tiling is such toil! Construction game on a wall © A. Robin-EPPDCSI
We are in the corridor linking the "mathematics" space to the "chemistry" space. © A. Robin-EPPDCSI
Discovering quasicrystals © A. Robin-EPPDCSI
In front of the graphic canvas entitled "Discovering quasicrystals", a quartz crystal that you can touch and an aluminium-palladium-manganese quasicrystal in a showcase. © C. Rousselin-EPPDCSI
The exhibition is located in the space adjoining the famous Pi Room and continues along the corridor that leads to the "Chemistry" space. © V. Besnard-EPPDCSI

Visit the exhibition in the company of Marie-Christine Hergault (Curator) and of Pierre Audin, Guillaume Reuiller, Robin Jamet, and Ludovic Fournier, Scientific Mediators at the Palais de la Découverte.

An audio guided tour for all ages from 12 upwards.

Plan of the exhibition (PDF 104kB)

1 - Introduction

2 - Jean-Marc Castera's mural: Between order and disorder (Mural, multimedia, and puzzle)

3 - What are its symmetries? (Hands-on exhibit for manipulating geometrical shapes)

4 - Symmetries in the arts (Graphic canvas, Escher's chocolate box, and sound book)

5 - The 17 classes of tiling (Multimedia)

6 - Tiling is such toil! (Construction game on a wall)

7 - Symmetries as modelling tools (Graphic canvases)

8 - Discovering quasicrystals (Graphic canvas, quartz, and quasicrystals)

Discover the other general tours