Exhibition

Cosmic Titans: Art, Science and the Quantum Universe

Sat 25 Jan – Sun 27 Apr 2025

Djanogly Gallery

Angear Visitor Centre

Free

Opening times

Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
Sunday, 12noon-4pm

Closed Mondays

Launch event: Friday 24 January, 7-9pm

This exhibition unites art and science in a captivating exploration of the quantum universe, celebrating the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

Quantum science deals with the smallest particles in nature. It is bringing about a revolution in our understanding of the origins of the universe and delivering ground-breaking technology. At the forefront of quantum research are scientists from the University of Nottingham and across the country, whose pioneering work has established both the university and the UK as centres of excellence in this fast-evolving field.

The exhibition features new commissions by nine artists who have each spent time working alongside world-leading researchers in quantum physics. Through immersive sculptural installations and photography, they give expression to the excitement, wonder and poetry of cutting-edge scientific discovery that is transforming our future.

The exhibition has been curated by Professor Silke Weinfurtner in the School of Mathematical Sciences – whose pioneering work in the field of black hole simulations remains unrivalled, Dr Ulrike Kuchner, Senior Researcher in Astronomy and Art-Science collaborations in the School of Physics and Astronomy, and Neil Walker, Head of Visual Arts Programming, Lakeside Arts, with Prof. Helen Kennedy and the Virtual & Immersive Production Studio.

Artists include Conrad Shawcross RA; Studio Above&Below; Alistair McClymont, Matthew Woodham, Monica C. LoCascio & daniela brill estrada, David Severn, Jim Grainger.

Through art and interpretive text, audio and video, this exhibition will communicate the wonder, complexity and otherworldliness of quantum science, with the pioneering research taking place at the University of Nottingham, explained and interpreted for a general audience. A public programme of talks, workshops and tours will accompany the exhibition offering audiences the opportunity to delve deeper into the artistic-scientific collaborations underpinning the exhibition. The exhibition also incorporates a public engagement area including photography by David Severn and Jim Grainger and video interviews with leading UK quantum researchers.

The exhibition has been generously supported by the following: UKRI: STFC (Science and Technologies Facilities Council), EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), UKRI: HEIF (Higher Education Innovation Funding), SIF (Strategic Innovation Fund), APEX Award (in partnership with the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society and Leverhulme Trust), BMKÖS (Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture Austria), University of Oxford: Department of Physics, Imperial College London, QTFP (Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics) and AION (UK atom interferometer observatory and network).

Image: Conrad Shawcross with Light Cage 2024 (detail). Photo: Richard Ivey

The University of Nottingham is part of the Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics (QTFP) programme – a £40m Strategic Priorities Fund programme that aims to transform our approach to understanding the universe and its evolution. The University of Nottingham is a recipient of one of 24 awards made since 2020 (the University of Nottingham was one of the original seven projects funded). Professor Silke Weinfurtner is the principal investigator at Nottingham of the funded project Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics (QSimFP) which explores essential processes linked to the dynamics of the early universe and black holes through analogue quantum simulations. Dr Ulrike Kuchner is a pioneer in the research on the collaboration of art and science and co-leads the global ArtScience collective SEADS (Space Ecologies Art and Design), alongside fundamental research in Astrophysics.

Exhibition Audio Descriptions

Ringdown by Conrad Shawcross

The Blind Proliferation by Conrad Shawcross

An Early Universe by Alistair McClymont

Superdecision by Matthew Woodham

Quantum Lens by Studio Above&Below

Begriff des Körpers by Daniela Brill Estrada_Monica C. LoCascio

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