Most of us equivocate the word “science” with
the word “fact”. However, I have found an underlying sense of
ambiguity in science; ambiguity about what lies in the future; ambiguity
concerning unproven theories and discoveries yet to be made. This field
has enabled me to come the closest to understanding my surroundings, as
well as the delicate intricacies that compose our world and our existence.
I have chosen to focus on one particular theory, which hypothesizes the
future status of physics and the integration of science into our collective
worldview: the string theory. Through time-based media, my intentions are
to combine the seemingly separate branches of science and art, forming my
own visualizations of the string theory and possible effects it may have
on our epistemological foundations.
Conceptually, Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches have been influential to
my work because he is an artist who was successful in creating pieces understandable
to both scientist and artist. I have also taken a formal interest in William
Kentridge’s films, finding process important because it parallels
with ever-changing discoveries resulting from proven scientific hypotheses.
In order to understand the complexity of the string theory, works by physics
theorists such as Stephen Hawking and author of The Elegant Universe, Brian
Greene, have become important to me. The visual allure of diagrams and illustrations
in scientific books has also informed my visual understanding of the string
theory.
Combining my formal and conceptual ideas has resulted in the creation of
stop motion animation films, which are documentations of a continually revised
process exploring ideas of general relativity, quantum mechanics, and the
string theory. Though these three branches of physics have not yet melded
together in the world of science, I have visualized this union, creating
abstract representations of my thoughts. My belief is that through science
we learn to understand our universe and through art we can envision the
ideas science presents us with.
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