Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine
Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance
Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine
Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History
Luxembourg Centre for European Law
Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems
The Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) has announced the winners of its artwork competition, which will lead to the installation of a new permanent art piece at the entrance of its Biotech2 building on Campus Belval. The competition invited artists to explore the intersection of art, science, and society, inspired by the LCSB’s research on the brain and complex biological systems.
After reviewing 14 high-quality submissions, the jury selected the following projects:
- 1st Prize: Raphaël Gindt & Daniel Mac Lloyd, Luxembourg – Synaptic Bloom
- 2nd Prize: Gérard Claude, Luxembourg – Research
- 3rd Prize: Anushka Bayens, Belgium – Microscope Glass Plate
1st Prize: Raphaël Gindt & Daniel Mac Lloyd, Luxembourg – Synaptic Bloom
2nd Prize: Gérard Claude, Luxembourg – Research
3rd Prize: Anushka Bayens, Belgium – Microscope Glass Plate
“We were impressed by the diversity and creativity of the submissions,” said François Valentiny, chair of the jury. “The winning proposal stood out for the way it clearly reflects the work of the LCSB while connecting Belval’s industrial past, scientific present, and innovative future. The interplay between the rusted corten steel and the colourful, dynamic surface beautifully captures the duality and vitality of the brain. It was a compelling choice among 17 strong submissions.”
About Synaptic Bloom
Synaptic Bloom, created by Luxembourgish artists Raphaël Gindt & Daniel Mac Lloyd, is a large brain sculpture forged from locally sourced corten steel. One half of the sculpture reveals the raw, rusted metal as an homage to Luxembourg’s industrial heritage and a metaphor for time, memory, and biological decay. The other half erupts into vibrant graffiti patterns, representing creativity and curiosity in scientific discovery. Positioned in front of the Biotech2 building, Synaptic Bloom will serve both as an artistic landmark and a symbolic reminder of the LCSB’s mission to unravel the complexity of the brain. The sculpture will be installed in spring 2026.
“Art and science share a fundamental curiosity about how the world works,” said LCSB Director Prof. Michael Heneka. “This new artwork will invite every visitor to reflect on the complexity and beauty of the brain and the human effort to understand it.”
“It is an honour to see our work come to life in such a meaningful context,” said the winning artists Raphaël Gindt and Daniel Mac Lloyd. “With Synaptic Bloom, we wanted to translate the idea of blooming connections in the brain and the process of creativity into a physical and colorful experience that connects people, just as neurons connect in the brain.”
The installation will become a lasting symbol of the dialogue between art and science at Campus Belval. Updates on the fabrication process and inauguration will be shared in the coming months on the LCSB website.