ZARM Research Inspires Mural Design as Part of Mural City 2026

Research doesn’t have to stay in the lab. At this year’s “MURAL CITY” festival in Bremen, science served as the starting point for large-scale art in public spaces. Under the motto “Beauty of Science,” national and international street art and graffiti artists transformed eleven building facades in Bremen’s Viertel neighborhood into a freely accessible open-air gallery. The Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen participated as a science partner.

The scientific input for one of the facades, on the topic of “aerospace,” was provided by ECOMAT and ZARM scientist Ianto Cannon from the “Fluid Simulation and Modeling” research group. He investigates how droplets and bubbles deform, break apart, and coalesce in flowing liquids. This plays a role, for example, in ocean waves, where they increase the air-sea interface and account for up to 40 percent of the ocean’s CO₂ uptake. These processes also form the basis for the formation of emulsions in foods, pharmaceuticals, and paints. Fluid flows – whether laminar or turbulent – shape natural phenomena and technical applications, ranging from global climate models to the mixing of paints. By combining theory, experiments, and simulations, this research contributes to a better understanding of fluid dynamics in nature and technology and plays an important role in the development of technical innovations, for example in the field of aeronautics.

The task of translating these complex scientific concepts into visual language was undertaken by the Italian graffiti artist ZARK ONER. Originally from Lecce and now living in Milan, the artist has been active since 2011 and has since made a name for himself internationally in the graffiti scene with his work. In keeping with the theme, his mural features a special detail: a paper airplane becomes fluid itself—it appears to be made of water, thus connecting the themes of aviation and fluid dynamics. The resulting artwork can be seen at Fehrfeld 41, near the Sielwall intersection in the Bremer Viertel neighborhood.

Yet another ZARM research topic served as inspiration for a mural: exploration research and the question of how a human presence on Mars might become possible in the long term. The science partner for the artwork on the facade of the corner building at Am Dobben 28 is the Cluster of Excellence “The Martian Mindset.” Callum Betley, a researcher with the Cluster of Excellence and ZARM conducts research in the Laboratory of Applied Space Microbiology on microbes that could later play an important role in astronautical exploration missions to Mars. They can produce food, oxygen, medications, and even help with waste recycling. However, in order for them to function continuously, they must be “fed” with materials found on Mars, such as dust, rock, or the planet’s thin atmosphere. This way, they are not dependent on resupply from Earth. The research team is focused on understanding how these microorganisms can form the basis for a self-sustaining system. They are not only studying the microbes but also exploring how the necessary technologies, materials, and safety measures can be developed to make this vision a reality.

ISS.UE was responsible for the artistic implementation. The Berlin-based street artist and graphic designer was born in Simferopol, Ukraine, and began creating graffiti as early as 2004. Over the years, he has evolved his style from classic graffiti to large-scale wall art, in which typography, geometric shapes, and digital techniques play an important role. In his work, he combines structure and coincidence, order and chaos, often placing everyday objects and urban elements in new contexts. For the facade at Am Dobben 28, ISS.UE translated scientific insights about Mars into a visual interpretation that leaves room for viewers to make their own discoveries.

This is how science becomes visible in Bremen – and perhaps, as people walk by, one or two new questions will arise.