Quantum: Living Archive

Quantum takes a closer look at the reality of our universe, at the smallest possible level, and questions how we understand the world around us. Taking over all of FACT’s gallery spaces, ten new works were presented as Broken Symmetries, emerging from the Collide International Award: a three-year partnership between Arts at CERN - the arts programme of the world’s largest particle physics lab - and FACT. The purpose of this award is to bring artists and scientists together to develop novel forms of collaboration between arts and science. In doing so, previously unseen work which happens in the context of the lab is unveiled and the discussions which happen there (which have a much wider cultural and social impact) are pushed out into the world.

Due to the complex nature of the works, and the experiments which many of them reference, an archive is being developed to reveal some of these often hidden, or mystifying processes. This archive will grow and evolve as the show continues, shining light on the work undertaken by both artists and scientists and considering some of the wider questions within which these projects exist - so please check the FACT website for more information. As a preview of what will become a much larger resource, we have concentrated on how the unique production of both the artworks and the exhibition can be understood by focusing on three main areas: the gaining and dissemination of KNOWLEDGE; the PROCESSES by which this knowledge is constructed and shared, and the OUTCOMES which follow. This is one of the myriad ways in which we can start to take a look behind the artworks, and the experiments and ideas which inspired them.

“Broken Symmetries tries to elicit the diverse ways in which new forms of knowledge and understanding about our planet arise when scientists and artists collaborate.”

Jose-Carlos Mariátegui, Mónica Bello - Co-curators

KNOWLEDGE

‘KNOWLEDGE’ is concerned with the ways in which we gather information, and how we send it back into the world. We know so little about the fabric which makes up our very reality: scientists are constantly striving to break new discoveries about the most minute layers of nature, illustrating how unknowable our universe really is. Simultaneously, artists utilise the observable world to pose complex philosophical and artistic enquiries into our perceptions of reality: from explorations into the natural world; to humanity, identity, political systems, and everything in between.

The query of who creates, curates and disseminates knowledge is central to the ethos of Quantum, and many of the artists have deconstructed those elements of communication which we rely so heavily on to convey scientific findings: visualisations, analogies, and even language itself. Their practice reflects the similarities of creative experimentation which lie between the fields of art and science, as well as an eagerness to come to terms with how little we know, and the importance of revisiting positions and theories - both in the scientific and artistic realms, but also in our day to day: to question that which we could simply take as received knowledge.

PROCESS

‘PROCESS’ is concerned more with how research takes places, and the specific ways in which facts and interpretations can be predicted, tested and shared. One thing which unites the artistic and scientific processes contained with Quantum are the levels of experimentation and uncertainty which operate in both fields. Many of the artists worked with experiments which required some understanding of incredibly complex notions, which they had previously not considered in their practice. The scientists, also were pushed by the artists, being invited to contribute to the artists’ enquiry through films, drawings, paintings and installations: allowing them to reflect on how to represent their intuitions and findings, creating surprising exchanges of ideas and approaches.

Processes of understanding, learning and reciprocity can be clearly seen within the works developed for the exhibition but these processes also affect the very production of an exhibition such as this, and the programme which accompanies it. As such, many partners and collaborators are consulted in the development of a major exhibition on the topics of art and science. The Department of Physics at University of Liverpool are amongst the world leaders in physics research and education. The department has strong connections with CERN, with many of its researchers and technical staff making significant contributions towards the planning, building and running of experiments at the lab. The department has delivered invaluable insight both into the scientific elements which concerned the artists, but also into the artistic side of things. Professor Tara Shears (Lecturer, Department of Physics) has been a key part of the Collide International Award between Arts at CERN and FACT, and has sat on the three juries which have taken place since 2016 - not just to provide scientific insight, but to comment on the artistic elements of the chosen works.

OUTCOME

Finally, the third element, ‘OUTCOME’, covers the ways in which Knowledge and Process come together to form a readable or perceivable product: whether it be a work within the exhibition, or a published visualisation of a scientific experiment. All of the artists within Quantum have worked towards a final presentation of their ideas, formulated over the last three years after delving into scientific research taking place at CERN. Their works act as a collaborative collision point between scientific enquiry and artistic interpretation - testing the limits of both fields and highlighting the huge potential which comes from interdisciplinary exchanges.

In this exhibition, we not only see the artists hand but the data, processes and approaches which come straight from the lab. The major outcome of all of these collisions and collaborations can be considered as Quantum itself, which will tour to three further sites across Europe during 2019 and 2020. These venues belong to ScANNER (Science Art Network for New Exhibitions and Research): an international production consortium formed in order explore the relationships between arts and science through the production and presentation of new work within the field. The network consists of Arts at CERN, Geneva; FACT, Liverpool; CCCB, Barcelona; la lieu unique, Nantes; and iMAL, Brussels, who will adapt, develop and build upon the research and discussions which begin here, at FACT.

Exhibition curators

Monica Bello

Mónica Bello (born 1973) is a Spanish curator and art historian. Over the last 12 years she has focused on the multidisciplinary perspectives and the narratives of today’s techno-scientific culture. In her curatorial research and projects she discusses the way artists instigate new conversations around emergent phenomena in our society and culture, such as the role of science and new knowledge in the perception of reality. She is currently the Head of Arts at CERN at the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva where she curates the research-led artistic residencies and the new art commissions that reflect on the conversations and interactions between artists and particle physicists. Prior to her arrival to Geneva she held the position of Artistic Director of VIDA (2010-2015) at Fundación Telefónica, Madrid (Spain), a pioneering award that fostered cross cultural expressions around the notion of life. She initiated and ran (2007-2010) the Department of Education at Laboral Centro de Arte, Gijón (Spain). She has curated exhibitions and events internationally with contemporary artists, creators and thinkers of different disciplines. As an internationally recognised figure within art and science networks, Bello is a regular speaker at conferences and participates in selection committees, advisory boards and mentorship programs.

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José-Carlos Mariátegui

José-Carlos Mariátegui (born 1975) is a scientist, writer and curator working on culture, new media and technology. Studied Biology and Applied Mathematics from Cayetano Heredia University (Lima). Holds both Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Information Systems and Innovation from the London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE (London). Founder of Alta Tecnología Andina - ATA and co-founder Escuelab, recognised projects devoted to art, creativity, technology and innovation in Latin America. Dr. Mariátegui is also a curator and researcher on the history and contemporary practices of new media in Latin America as well as the study of digital images, technical artefacts and archives. He conceived and curated internationally some original exhibitions and events in new media art and on the history of science and technology. Was a member of the National Commission of Culture of the Peruvian Government (2001-2002) and Advisor to the Minister of Culture (2010/2012-2017), member of the Advisory Council of Third Text (2007-2012) and a Network Committee Member of Prince Claus Fund, The Netherlands (2009-2014). Has published in journals such as Third Text, The Information Society, Telos and Leonardo. Is currently an Editorial Board member for Leonardo Books at MIT Press, Advisory Board member for AI & Society (UK) and member of the Board of Trustees at the Art Museum of Lima - MALI. Has been worked on projects on art, science and technology for more than two decades.

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