ad/ab Atom
ad/ab Atom (2017) is a collaboration with the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) that converts data collected from observing material at a nano level into an audiovisual composition. The work was commissioned by GNRation as part of their Scale Travels project in Braga, Portugal.
Technical Details:
Concept and Process:
Using electron microscopy, computer-generated plotting and mathematical modelling, scientists from INL's QuantaLab can translate this data into phenomena that can be perceived by the human eye. Kurokawa then analyses, filters and distorts this data into an artistic rendering of an atomic space in which the laws of quantum mechanics would theoretically be visible.
Title Meaning:
"The term 'ad' in the title means 'to/toward' etymologically as a prefix in words of Latin origin and 'ab' means 'away from'. It is recombinant of neologism 'adatom/abatom' which means 'to atom/from atom', where the laws governing nature blur".
Artistic Context:
The theme of unfold was stellar formation, while for ad/ab Atom the scale is opposite. They provided a great opportunity to treat both micro and macro scientific materials to create different works. This work represents Kurokawa's exploration of making atomic material perceivable to the human eye and continues his practice of using scientific data as artistic material.