In memory of Raquel Ribeiro
Conceptual artist Raquel Ribeiro, who collaborated with Jürgen Jaumann on several public art commissions and sculptures for the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, passed away in June.
At the heart of her work was the dialogue between art, science, and public space. Born in Mozambique in 1963, Ribeiro studied art history and philosophy in Porto. After working as a textile designer and photographer, she devoted herself to conceptual and interdisciplinary art. From the 1990s onward, she lived and worked in Germany and Austria.
Together with artist Jürgen Jaumann, Raquel Ribeiro developed numerous projects exploring the intersection of art and the natural sciences. Over many years, they created sculptures and site-specific artworks for the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics inspired by the institute's research, ranging from laser spectroscopy and quantum dynamics to quantum information and many-body systems. Their collaboration has left a lasting mark on the institute's campus.
Through her work, Raquel Ribeiro made complex scientific concepts accessible in a poetic and thought-provoking way. Her artworks combined artistic sensitivity with scientific curiosity, inviting viewers to experience science from a new perspective.
The Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics will remember Raquel Ribeiro with gratitude as a highly valued artist and companion on our journey.
