Nikon Europe B.V. is supporting a microscopy exhibition at the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave: ‘Unimaginable: How Antoni van Leeuwenhoek discovered the microworld’, by providing images from the Nikon Small World gallery to feature in the exhibition and to be used in an interactive game for student visitors.
‘Unimaginable’ shows the fine and unique collection of items Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek and his contemporaries were working with, showcasing microscopes, sketches and letters that make the microworld visible. In addition, the exhibition focused on current developments in microscopy and the techniques used, which includes displaying cutting-edge microscopy images from the Nikon Small World gallery.
"The photos from Nikon Small World are a wonderful addition to the exhibition ‘Unimaginable’ in Rijksmuseum Boerhaave. The aesthetic blow-ups fill the walls and thus form a resting point for the compelling information about the microscopic world, from the 17th century to the present. We look forward to welcoming and inspiring many more visitors." Said Daan van de Weijer from Rijksmuseum Boerhaave.
The exhibition also highlights Visualizing the Unknown, a major international research project exploring images from the early years of microscopy. This six-year research project especially focuses on the question: how did seventeenth-century microscopists visually record and share their pioneering discoveries. The microphotography made by Wim van Egmond for this project is featured in the exhibition alongside the Nikon Small World images.
“‘Unimaginable’ is a fantastic exhibition that is helping to put a spotlight on microscopy. Nikon are overjoyed to support the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave with such a project. It is great to see the fantastic Nikon Small World images on display in such a prestigious museum.” said Daniel Ciepielewski, General Manager at Nikon Europe B.V.
Every decade, the Netherlands Society for Microbiology awards the Van Leeuwenhoek Medal, a prestigious international award for impactful microbiological science. The medal will be awarded again in 2023 in honour of the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Year. The 2023 medal will be shown in the temporary exhibition.
