RAY TORRENT

Visible light represents a narrow band of electromagnetic radiation, yet it provides extensive information about celestial bodies, cosmic events, and the immense forces at play in the sublime universe. Cataclysmic space episodes release enormous amounts of energy that we can observe in the visible spectrum, assisting in our endeavour to conquer the fear of the obscure and better understand the way we feel and think.

Philosophers Edmund Burke (1729–1797) and Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) assert in their writings that experiencing the sublime—a profound sense of terrified wonder—requires being in a position of safety, away from physical harm caused by overwhelming or distressing occurrences. Kant in particular refers to this concept as the dynamically sublime, emphasising that one does not need to be unsettled by terrifying natural phenomena, especially if not directly affected by them. Through the use of thought and reason, individuals realise that being overcome by fear is a choice. This recognition, that feelings can be controlled by the power of reason, creates the cognitive pleasure associated with the dynamically sublime.

The exhibition RAY TORRENT explores Kant’s concept of the dynamically sublime through the lens of awe-inspiring cosmic developments being witnessed from the safety of our planet. Time, vast distances, and Earth's unique position within the Milky Way galaxy provide a protective vantage point from which humans can observe and interpret a wide range of space phenomena, many of them fierce and distressing. In addition to philosophical concepts, the artwork in the show is informed by data from NASA and other space agencies, as well as scientific insights into the electromagnetic spectrum and its role in decoding information from space. Using modern technology to interpret and visualise electromagnetic radiation—particularly visible light—we can contemplate dramatic astronomical events such as galaxies colliding, violent supernovae, the formation of vast nebulae, the birth of new stars and solar systems, gamma-ray bursts, black holes devouring nearby celestial objects, and even the Big Bang itself. Although these phenomena were originally strikingly intense and all-consuming, their data has travelled across immense stretches of time and space to reach us as breathtaking displays of colour and light, mere echoes of once-mighty celestial events.