The exhibition "Alchemy: the intersection of all things"

The exhibition "Alchemy: The Intersection of All Things" is open in the exhibition hall of the university library. The exhibition explores alchemy as a universal knowledge that seeks to unite everything that exists - elements, nature, humans, planets, and the spiritual world - into a holistic system.

According to one of the curators, Meelis Friedenthal, the aim is to show that alchemy is much more than just legends about gold and magic. "Alchemy is primarily an attempt to understand and transform the world in which we live," Friedenthal explained. "From the rich materials in the University of Tartu Library, we highlight the multifaceted nature of alchemy, showing how alchemists throughout history have studied the profound transformations of nature, consciousness, and matter." In addition to materials from the library's collections, visitors can also see chemical apparatus from the university museum's collections.

In addition to introducing alchemy as a cultural phenomenon of the past, the exhibition also invites reflection on human-induced change in the modern world, where technology and natural sciences have rapidly advanced, particularly in relation to genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and environmental issues - all of which connect, in one way or another, to questions already raised by alchemists.

The exhibition was curated by Meelis Friedenthal, Associate Professor of Intellectual History at the Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics and the Center for Intellectual History of the Baltic Sea Region at the University Library, and Kurmo Konsa, Associate Professor of Archival Studies at the Institute of History and Archaeology. The artistic work for the exhibition was created by Jaanus Kaasik.

The exhibition "Alchemy: The Intersection of All Things" is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and will be open until November 4th.

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