The secret Gardens of Planet E – An Exhibition by Martin Oeggerli at the historic UNESCO protected site ‚Altes Bad Pfäfers‘
The exhibition, open from 24th of August to 5th of October at Altes Bad Pfäfers, showcases selected works by artist and visual storyteller Martin Oeggerli, who has dedicated two decades into capturing microscopic forms of life and biological structures using the scanning electron microscope. His work merges scientific precision with artistic sensitivity and offers new perspectives on the seemingly invisible. Through extreme magnification and his meticulous hand-coloring, Oeggerli creates visual worlds that oscillate between reality and imagination.
At the heart of the exhibition are works from various series, including the latest triptych from the series The Secret Gardens of Planet E. The piece shows a surreal leaf surface which has become a stage of the artists visual storytelling. The compositions of this series evoke dreamlike landscapes—strange, distant, yet familiar. The plant’s structure unfolds like a topographic vision, drawing viewers into an otherworldly realm.
Another major focus are the Pollen —a long-term project that documents Oeggerli’s fascination with nature’s microscopic architecture. For each image, he isolates a single pollen grain and thereby reveals its unique form with astonishing clarity and depth. Through his careful hand-coloring process, specific structures are highlighted while others recede into the background—a technique that emphasizes patterns with clarity, and even a sense of grandeur. These portraits invite viewers to explore evolutionary similarities and differences, and to appreciate the intricate design of even the smallest life forms.
Oeggerli’s artistic approach is driven by a desire to build bridges: between science and art, between humans and nature, between the visible and the invisible.
This is especially evident in the series Animal Character Portraits, which features creatures often met with rejection or disgust in public perception. Through extreme magnification and neutral portrait composition—focused solely on the face or bust—Oeggerli recontextualizes these animals and restores their dignity. The presentation, reminiscent of passport photos, encourages viewers to recognize personality traits, develop empathy, and reconsider their own attitudes.
A distinctive feature of this exhibition is its innovative presentation: some works are framed in custom-designed, three-dimensional display cases that lend the images a sculptural quality. Others are large-scale installations that transform the works into spatial objects, allowing visitors to experience them physically in the room.
This exhibition is not only an aesthetic experience but also a space for reflection. It challenges us to rethink our value judgments about nature, to move beyond superficial impressions, and to rediscover a sense of wonder for the diversity and beauty of life. The deeper one engages with the details of each piece, the stronger the connection becomes between viewer and subject—whether it’s a leaf surface, a beetle, or a grain of pollen. Initial distance gives way to familiarity; aversion transforms into curiosity.
Link to Exhibiton, Altes Bad Pfäfers
Documentary: When Science meets Art
À Objectif Ouvert is an initiative led by Charlotte Bonniot and a team of students with diverse backgrounds. The project was supported by the Fondation Grenoble INP and it’s goal was to create a unique documentary exploring the unexpected yet deeply interconnected links between art and science. By meeting scientists and artists around the world who merge these two fields, illustrating how both fields come together to enrich each other. The resultant documentary is being shown in Bad Pfäfers continuously during the exhibition and as a premiere in Switzerland.
Contest: Art + Science
I am pleased to host the Art + Science Contest by Promega Switzerland at the exhibition in Bad Pfäfers. On display is a curated selection of winning artworks from the 2025, 2023, and 2021 contests, created by life scientists across Switzerland. They have also created a virtual exhibition, please feel free to have a look!
Electrifying: Salt
Commissioned artwork ‚Ionic Landscapes‘ for Saleon AG, the innovative Swiss company which transforms salt into advanced, non-flammable, recyclable batteries, designed for decades of reliable use.
At first glance, salt appears simple – ordinary, even. Yet behind its crystalline surface lies a fascinating world of complexity, structure, and potential. As a bold counterpoint to generic high-tech imagery that dominate the industry – Oeggerli has created a highly magnified image of the mineral that challenges expectations, celebrates innovation, and reflects saleons vision: taking something as humble as salt and unlocking its potential to power the future.
For further information, discover everything you need to know about the exciting technology at: saleon.energy
The Exhibition in the Media
