Le Jardin Polygonal by Hicham Berrada: An Artistic Installation at the Pascal building

As part of the 1% artistique initiative—a public commission process requiring state institutions to dedicate a portion of their budget to artwork—the Institut Pascal, the LPTMS and the FAST are proud to welcome Le Jardin Polygonal, an installation by the artist Hicham Berrada.

Installed in the northern garden of the Pascal Building, close to the main entrance, this artwork presents a landscape that seems to emerge from a parallel universe. Mysterious hybrid entities, appearing both organic and metallic, rise from the ground, challenging the viewer’s perception of nature and materiality. These intricate forms, created through advanced computational modeling, blur the boundaries between the digital and the physical, the artificial and the natural.

Rooted in the centuries-old tradition of garden art—where landscapes are shaped to reflect cultural and aesthetic ideals—Le Jardin Polygonal reinterprets this practice through the lens of contemporary technology. Each sculptural element originates from algorithmic calculations inspired by morphogenesis, generating an organized chaos that feels both familiar and otherworldly. The transformation from virtual model to tangible form is achieved through 3D printing and the ancient lost-wax bronze casting technique, bridging digital innovation with traditional craftsmanship.

Hicham Berrada, a former resident of the Villa Médicis and a nominee for the 2020 Marcel Duchamp Prize, is known for his groundbreaking exploration of science, technology, and artistic creation. His work, exhibited internationally and represented by leading Parisian galleries, finds a natural resonance with the research conducted at FAST.

We invite you to visit Le Jardin Polygonal !