The Jean-Leray Mathematics Laboratory (LMJL) at the Université de Nantes first met the creative arts organization Athénor-scène nomade in 2010
(**https://athenor.com**), which has been a national center for musical creation since 2018. Their early encounters were founded on a shared curiosity and common convictions: the idea that science, and the work of researchers themselves, can give fresh impetus to artistic projects and open up unexpected avenues of expression. Artists are fascinated by the scientific process ("But how does a 'math person’s' brain work?"), mathematical vocabulary ("What is an 'honest assumption' or a 'well-behaved function'?"), and the use of the blackboard ("What can we see beyond all these symbols?"). In turn, the "math people" are fascinated by the artists’ creativity and their ability to make other worlds their own.
Gradually, the artists and mathematicians got to know one another and learned to work together. Their joint projects in schools offer wonderful opportunities for experimentation, discovery, surprises, and enjoyment shared with children and teachers.
Artistic creation projects
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These personal encounters paved the way for deeper collaborations, allowing artists and mathematicians to devise and develop artistic projects together. We observed how researchers question artistic practice and how artists question the research process. From the outset, actors, musicians, and writers have regularly been welcomed into the university laboratory to pursue research or creative work with complete freedom—an arrangement known as an artist residency.
