An Early Universe

This artwork was made in collaboration with The Gravity Laboratory at the University of Nottingham and would not have been possible without the help of the scientists there. In particular Dr. Vitor Barroso Silveira, Dr. Lina Jansson, Maciej Jarema, Dr. Ulrike Kuchner, Dr. Patrik Švančara and Professor Silke Weinfurtner.

An Early Universe offers a glimpse into the first moments after the Big Bang, recreating the extreme dynamics when waves and oscillations shaped the cosmos. The rippling water at the heart of the installation serves as an analogue for the early universe, drawing on the shared mathematical principles that govern both the water’s surface and the early cosmos. This exploration invites deeper philosophical reflection: how can models truly bring us closer to understanding the universe’s most elusive mysteries?

The universe began with the Big Bang, igniting a rapid expansion called inflation. In that moment, it was intensely hot and dense. As it cooled, particles formed the first nuclei of hydrogen and helium. After 380,000 years, light travelled freely for the first time, creating the cosmic microwave background— a faint radiation of the universe’s infancy.

In the gallery, McClymont recreates these conditions through the resonance of water. A speaker, sweeping through a range of frequencies, shakes the water, creating waves that reflect white light. Magnified through lenses and projected onto a screen, they form intricate, shifting patterns. These forms, reminiscent of early cosmic oscillations, fill the space with a vibrant visual spectacle. Simultaneously, a low-frequency sub-bass speaker positioned in the corner of the gallery emits the same frequency vibrations through the space. They are felt in the body and heard as subtle reverberations, offering an embodied experience of the forces that shaped the universe.

In his accompanying wall-hung sculpture, McClymont freezes time. The glossy black form of a 3D scan of the water’s vibrating surface captures a fleeting moment of fluid motion, providing a tangible record of patterns too rapid to perceive.

The installation’s evolution was a year-long, collaborative journey between McClymont and scientists at the Gravity Laboratory at Nottingham. Artistic provocations sparked new scientific inquiries, while scientific discoveries enriched McClymont’s vision. Through sound, light, and form, An Early Universe blends emotional resonance with scientific rigour, inviting reflection on the dynamic forces that shaped the universe and that continue to shape our understanding of it.

Created in collaboration with the University of Nottingham’s Gravity Laboratory, Dr. Lina Jansson and ARTlab.

• https://www.alistairmcclymont.com