Where the Arts Meet Physics: A Class, An Exhibition, An Amazing Learning Experience

University of Illinois physicists are always doing the unthinkable. From April 13th through the 20^th, University of Illinois physics students held that standard by holding an art exhibition at the Krannert Art Museum: an exhibition called “Where the Arts Meet Physics.”

The exhibition was the culmination of a project-based course Physics Professor Smitha Vishveshwara created and led.

“The universe is an extraordinary place,” Vishveshwara said. “The class explored this extraordinary place under three umbrellas — the Universe, Fluids and Flow, and the Quantum World —and adapted diverse artistic media to bring their explorations alive.”

Diverse artistic media is right. From “Quantum Cats,” a digital print and lantern art piece described as a “more benevolent, cheerful version of Schrodinger’s cat” to Andy Warhol-style art prints of famous physicists to a multimedia installation putting you inside the cosmic canopy, this semester’s students picked the best media to bring their interpretation of the subject matter to life.

“This isn’t art just to be pretty,” Vishveshwara said. “There is real harmony in what was created over the three topics… it’s a first for us to explore all these topics and a lovely experiment.”

See more photos from the exhibition on the MRL Facebook page.

Learn more about the course. 

Student artists and physicists discuss their work.

Exhibit details for Where the Arts Meet Physics.

Inside the cosmic canopy portion of the exhibit.