Quantum Potential

30 physicists mark an ‘x’ on a piece of paper, 2020
Pen/pencil on A4 paper. Overall dimensions, 160 x 192cm approx.


30 physicists mark an 'x' on a piece of paper formed a central part of a solo exhibition at Concept Space, Japan (www.conceptspace.jp).

It was made through contributions from members of the Institute of Physics, Scotland (IOPS), who were asked to each hand-draw an ‘x’ anywhere on the front of a sheet of A4 paper, then sign and print their names on the reverse. It was suggested that these ‘x’ marks should be made as unselfconsciously as possible, most importantly in the placement of them. The pen and paper used were to be those ordinarily used in the office or laboratory.

As ‘x’s made by physicists, they may present a sense of theorising or speculation. The marks could also prompt thoughts on the starting point of any artistic production. In either case the A4 paper stands as a familiar area of possibility.

The process of determining exact position from an area of possibility, by physicists, invites a comparison to the collapse of the wave-function of atoms. The work intends here a particular consideration of the moment of concretization and, in this, the effects of self-conscious awareness.

The engagement between participant and page in this work has been guided by various formal, cultural or personal factors, indicating constraints on possibility, constraints which may be further considered for their physical basis. The work, by this, perhaps posits a physical basis to possibility, and reflects, by analogy, on the possible nature of the wave-function.

​The members of the IOPS who contributed to this work were: David Greig, Stuart Farmer, Martin Hendry, Graeme Eddolls, Keith Black, Marion Cromb, John Wrightson, Liam Campbell, Carol Davenport, Ken Hargreaves, Kirsty Annand, Ross Galloway, Catherine Hirst, Giles Hammond, Blane D Ferguson, Paul Campbell, Anne Brown, Malcolm Thomson, Alan Craggs, Simon Andrews, Laura Alexander, Ruth Hamilton, Stewart Bracegirdle, Nick Hardwick, Vicky Ingram, Gail E Millar, Alistair McInroy, Ken Darling, Alison McLure, Gregor Steele, Fraser Cannon, Manlio Tassieri.

30 physicists mark an ‘x’ on a piece of paper, 2020
detail views

Circle drawing, portrait, 2020
Pencil on paper, A2 (59.4 x 42cm)
 
Circle drawing, landscape, 2020
Pencil on paper, A2 (42 x 59.4cm)
 
 
These two works develop the results from 30 physicists mark an ‘x’ on a piece of paper. Each diagrammatic drawn circle has been centred on the average points determined by the location of the ‘x’s in portrait and landscape format.
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Relating also to the ensō circle-drawings of Zen, they extend these works’ particular consideration of concretization.







Geoff and Eilidh Lucas gratefully acknowledge the help of the Institute of Physics Scotland members who contributed to these works. They are especially grateful to Alison McLure and Michael Jarrell of the IOPS for organising these contributions, enabling these works’ realisation.