Large Hadron Collider

The largest and most powerful particle accelerator ever built is scheduled to begin operating this summer in Europe.  The Large Hadron Collider at CERN promises to open up previously unreachable levels of energy, and perhaps prove or disprove various theories about the fundamental laws of nature.  Infinitesimal packets of matter will be hurled together  -- sifting the shards should bring us new insights. 

Hidden in the promise of new knowledge is the tiny seed of doubt, the worry that we will release something that may threaten and even consume us.  Scientists have considered the possibility that a micro black hole could be created, or that a hypothetical “strangelet” might be formed.  Such fears have been raised before, as new colliders have reached ever-higher energies.  Responsible authorities have weighed the likelihood of such events and pronounced them remote.  Yet certainty is elusive, and how could it be otherwise – our knowledge of the laws of physics is imperfect.  It is precisely this knowledge that we are seeking to extend, and the beauty and openness of this quest is probably irresistible. 

These works are improvisations on the structures of the LHC.  Architectural renderings of the various detectors and tunnels merge with accidental splatterings.  Paint has collided with the surface, and left traces of the impact.  Working on both sides of transparent mylar, I combine organic and inorganic structures, articulating chance patterns with drawn lines.