Lego models, virtual reality goggles and lace sculptures are among the different methods being used to bring experiments by University of Nottingham scientists to life in a new exhibition.
Cosmic Titans at the university’s Lakeside Arts gallery is using the power of art to help us understand complex discoveries of quantum science – something that cannot be seen but is often studied.
Quantum science revolves around complex and abstract concepts that explore the unknown and invisible elements that make up the universe, such as black holes, time, and space.
It is something that many humans are unlikely to ever understand or be able to visualise, but by working with experts at the University of Nottingham’s science department, nine artists have created new pieces based on the complex theories.
This includes a model created by renowned artist Conrad Shawcross, which demonstrates two planets colliding in black holes in our universe. Shawcross was the youngest living member of the Royal Academy of Arts at the time he was elected.
He says artists and scientists have a common goal of trying to see the invisible which makes the exhibition a perfect opportunity for the two disciplines to collaborate. “I’ve genuinely learnt a lot through this project and this subject is very close to my heart,” he told Platform.
“It will hopefully be inspiring for both the artists and the scientists and it could lead to some really meaningful bridges between our disciplines.
“I think we’re all trying to understand the further and we want to see beyond what we perceive through our five senses – both artists and scientists do that. It’s about trying to understand and envision things we will never see or understand because they are so far away.”
The exhibition also features an Albert Einstein-inspired gravitational pull cotton web, virtual reality goggles that simulate what it might be like to walk around the quantum world, and a machine that makes decisions for humans.
Sculptures made out of Nottingham lace are also being used by artists to help visualise the parts of the universe we can’t see – while nodding to the city’s industrial past.
Professor Silke Weinfurtner, an expert from the university, who is heading the project, says: “The goal is to show the beauty of our experiments.
“It’s this blind way of seeing – when we set up our experiments we are looking for effects that are almost invisible. We know there is something hidden that we want to pull out to confirm that it’s there.
“This is very much like art and it’s amazing to see the similarities between the two. It’s about trying to share these abstract concepts that we have and making them immersive. It’s about letting people in.”
Cosmic Titans: Art, Science and the Quantum Universe is at the Djanogly Gallery at Lakeside Arts until April 27. Entry is free.
Get a look at the new exhibition here – all photos taken by Taylor Ind:
Renowned artist Conrad Shawcross hascreated two pieces for the exhibition, working with University of Nottingham sciences 
This includes a model which demonstrates two planets colliding in black holes in our universe was created 
Professor Silke Weinfurtner, an expert from the university, says the goal of the exhibition is to “show the beauty of our experiments” 
Sculptures made out of Nottingham lace are also used by artists to help visualise what the parts of the universe we cant see really look like – while nodding to the city’s industrial past 
The exhibition is on until April at the university’s Lakeside Arts gallery 
‘Cosmic Titans’ also features an Albert Einstein inspired gravitational pull cotton web 
Entry to the exhibition is free