The Royal West of England Academy in Bristol, UK, is hosting Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space, a unique exhibition that blends artistic interpretation with astronomical observation. Running until April 19, the show explores how both artists and scientists act as translators of reality, converting complex phenomena into narratives we can understand.
The Interplay of Gaze and Data
Curator Ione Parkin frames the exhibition as a recalibration of perspective, drawing parallels between the patience of stargazing and the meticulous analysis of scientific data. The exhibit doesn’t just present art inspired by space; it invites visitors to participate in their own act of observation, finding new connections between the visual and the empirical.
Solargraphy and Ancient Technology
Featured works demonstrate this fusion in striking ways. Janette Kerr’s photography, created in collaboration with communities across Iceland, Greenland, Shetland, and Somerset, uses solargraphy – a technique of months-long solar exposures – to capture time in a single frame. This approach is mirrored by Alex Hartley’s piece that juxtaposes solar panels with manipulated images of Neolithic standing stones, highlighting a historical continuity of solar technology from ancient times to the present day.
Evoking Celestial Energy
The exhibition isn’t limited to photography. Parkin’s own paintings depict the raw energy of the sun, with swirling reds, oranges, and stark white cracks evoking super-heated plasma. The exhibition’s pieces collectively suggest that the act of looking at the cosmos—whether through a telescope or a paintbrush—is inherently a process of interpretation, translation, and ultimately, storytelling.
Cosmos challenges viewers to consider how we perceive the universe around us, reminding us that science and art are not separate pursuits but complementary ways of engaging with the same reality. The exhibition’s success lies in its ability to make complex ideas accessible through striking visuals, creating a truly immersive experience.
