Time is an unfathomable concept. We all seem to agree on what it means, but the mere attempt to define it is downright doomed to failure. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a suitable definition of time would be a finite extent or stretch of continued existence -an intriguing phrasing, to say the least, and one that allows for a variety interpretations. In this year’s exhibition, Heirs of Infinity, we invite you to explore the many meanings of time.
For this exhibition, young researchers from this year’s 12th HLF were invited to create works of art inspired by their own research and combined with the leitmotif time. How they approached this task and how they interpreted the concept of time was left up to the artists. As you will see, they ultimately shared much more than “just” a straightforward answer: you will get to know these scientists, their personalities, their cultures, their attitudes toward science and society. Art allows us to open up and connect with others.

When we decided to focus this year's exhibition on the leitmotiv time, we did so because it provides a common ground for both the academic and non-academic communities. We all share experiences with time. But as we reflected on the many meanings of the term time in the everyday life of a scientist, we realized that many of them –such as deadlines for paper submissions or the short duration of academic positions– have a rather negative connotation. So, we curious to see what the participating scientists would do with this concept. And we were pleasantly surprised that they shared a mainly positive attitude towards time. We hope you enjoy!