¡Energy Lounge!: art and the energy transition

Art can open up new ways to talk about complex societal challenges. With ¡Energy Lounge!, curator Sayoko Matsutani brings together art, science and the public to explore the theme of energy transition together with students from Academie Minerva. The project runs from 16 March to 19 June 2026 at ROAM in Zernike Campus and forms part of the Off-course programme at Minerva.

Opening hours: Tuesday & Thursday, from noon to 2pm (April 2 - June 18)

In conversation with Sayoko Matsutani (Pine Valley Contemporary)

Art as a bridge between science and society

Matsutani has worked as an art curator in several European contexts. Before moving to Groningen two years ago, she spent five years in the UK and later worked in Dunkirk (FR) for the regional contemporary art organisation FRAC, where she developed exhibitions connecting European art practices. In Groningen, she has initiated several projects around the intersection of art and energy transition, collaborating with partners such as the University of Groningen, Groninger Museum and the Municipality of Groningen.

“Energy transition is often discussed by governments, scientists or industry,” Matsutani explains. “But the transition also involves individuals and communities. Everyone plays a role in this shift.” With this project, in collaboration with the Gemeente Groningen, art helps to make the conversation more accessible. “Artists can translate complex themes and connect them to everyday experiences. Art can attract people who might not normally engage with scientific or policy discussions.”

From artefacts to conversations

The first part of the project focuses on objects and materials related to energy research. Technical artefacts from laboratories and research centres at Zernike are presented as part of the exhibition, alongside visual resources such as photo panels of the University Museum collection. Displayed as a “Cabinet of curiosities”, these objects invite visitors to reflect on how scientific materials can be reinterpreted within artistic contexts.

The next stage of the project shifts the focus from exhibition to interaction. Inspired by the installation Marx Lounge by artist Alfredo Jaar, the space of ROAM is designed as an informal meeting place where visitors, students and experts can gather, talk and share perspectives on energy and sustainability.

Learning through collaboration

For Minerva students, the project offers a chance to explore how artistic practice can connect with social engagement. Students organise conversations, invite people from their own networks and collect personal stories about energy, sustainability and everyday life. These interactions form the basis for artistic outcomes such as podcasts, soundscapes and new artworks.

Visitors are also invited to contribute. They can bring objects, recordings or stories related to energy in their own environment, from the sound of wind or rain to voices, footsteps or local landscapes. “The interactive approach itself becomes part of the artwork,” Matsutani says.

Through this process, students learn how to engage with audiences, collaborate with organisations and work across disciplines, skills that are increasingly important for artists working in contemporary society.

Looking ahead

The project will culminate in the New Energy Forum on 18 June, organised by Entrance, where the outcomes of the collaboration will be presented.