You Are a Coral Reef
The Microcosms of the Human Body
Exhibition at Novartis Pavillon Basel, 16 June, 2026 – 30 August, 2026
Beyond the limits of normal sight, an entire world unfolds within the human body. Martin Oeggerli journeys into it as both scientist and artist, returning with larger-than-life images of structures we carry inside us but have never seen. Applying careful colorization, composition and extreme magnification, he turns scientific imagery into artworks, zooming in on tiny elements until they appear monumental, radiant and alien, as though from a different planet. The exhibition features Oeggerli’s ongoing exploration of the human body and the microorganisms and processes that surround and sustain us — alive on our skin, teeming in our gut, coursing through our blood, shaping every sense and thought.
Excerpt from the artist’s oeuvre Gut Microbiome of a Newborn, presented at the ‚You are a Coral Reef ‚ exhibition, Pavillon (Novartis), Basel.
Curated by the Novartis Art Forum, the exhibition ‘You Are a Coral Reef’ brings together eighteen works spanning the full arc of Martin Oeggerli’s career, on view at the Novartis Pavillon from 16 June to 30 August, 2026.
Edition prints
Oeuvres are sold as edition prints and each piece is available in a limited number. For inquiries on particular works, please contact the artist: info(at)oeggerli.com
Beneath the limits of sight, an entire world unfolds within the human body. Martin Oeggerli journeys into it as both scientist and artist, returning with larger-than-life images of structures we carry inside us but have never seen. Starting with the alchemy of a kiss and shared intimacy, it unveils the biology of attraction, with previously unpublished images of a spermatozoon and a fertilised egg cell. It then journeys through the ecosystem of the intestine, from the microbiome of a newborn child to the gut of an adult, revealing a teeming wilderness of bacteria.
Exploring the rugged landscapes of our skin, it zooms in on the microbial communities that transform odourless sweat into a distinctive scent. From there it moves through fat cells, muscle fibres and bones, blood and the architecture of the senses, before closing on the brain cells that make meaning of it all.
Collectively, the images sit at the edge of what is known, offering a glimpse into a body as vast and interconnected as a coral reef. To reach these depths, Oeggerli works with a scanning electron microscope. Capturing structures at the nanoscale in extraordinary detail, he returns to the digital darkroom, adding colour by hand, as faithfully to nature as possible, but with the freedom to depart where meaning demands.
About the Artist
Martin Oeggerli (born 1974, Solothurn), PhD, is a Swiss molecular biologist who uses his microscope to probe the tiniest enclaves of nature, taking his sharp eye for beauty to the nanoscale.
Styling himself as a Micronaut, Oeggerli creates microscopic photographs using a combination of scanning electron microscopy and post-processing coloration.
Oeggerli has a background in cancer research and received his PhD at the University of Basel, in the field of genetics and molecular biology. Over the past twenty years he has worked as a science photographer.
About the Novartis Pavillon
Novartis Pavillon is a learning, event and exhibition space in Basel that explores the big questions around healthcare – a space where everyone can learn about, engage with, and be inspired by the wonders of medicine. Designed by Italian designer and architect Michele De Lucchi, Novartis Pavillon stands as a beacon for openness, sustainability, and forward thinking. Wood and other natural materials are used in innovative ways that evoke the feel of a living building, while transparent surfaces and a harmony with outside greenery create the perfect environment for inspiring encounters.
Director Novartis Pavillon: Marcel Braun
Curatorial concept and execution: Viviane Stappmanns (Global Art Curator Novartis), Nathalie Opris with Magalie Mabandza
Exhibition design and Scenography: Nathalie Opris with Veronika Mutalova
Graphic Design: Nathalie Opris after a concept by EMYL Interior Design and Scenography with Ahjin Kim
Project management: Marco Arnold
Communication: Isabelle Gautier, Cheryl Dürrenberger
Production: Stephan Probst, Proha-Tec GmbH
Audiotour: iArt
Translations: Notabene
Film: Charlotte Bonniot
Sound of the micrososm: José Navarro, in collaboration with Philipp Oertle (Artidis) and Martin Oeggerli
Location
Pavillon Novartis Basel
Opening hours
Tue – Fri 8am – 6pm, Sat – Sun 10am – 6pm
Thanks
Kenny N. Goldie, Henning Stahlberg, Andreas Buser, Andreas Holbro, Maurizio Cortada, Hanspeter Marti, Sophie Herzog, Daniel J. Müller, Christoph Handschin, Sedat Dilbaz, Uwe Pieles, Theo Bühler, Marcus Waser, Gerda Huber, Falko Schlottig, Susanne Erpel, Evi Bieler, Alexander Vogel, Marcus Wyss, Manuel Fischer, Christian De Geyter.
Institutions
- School of Life Sciences, FHNW, Basel
- Bio-EM Lab, Biozentrum, University Basel
- Swiss Nanoscience Institute, Basel
- Center for Cellular Imaging and Nano-Analytics, University Basel
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Basel
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Basel
- Eye Clinic, University Hospital Basel
- Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Basel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Basel
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich
- Blutspendezentrum Basel
‘YOU ARE A CORAL REEF’: THE MICROCOSMS OF THE HUMAN BODY
by Martin Oeggerli, Hand-coloured scanning electron micrographs
The Novartis Art Collection, Basel