Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth. Pablo Picasso
Using artwork that she had a hand in curating, "Knocking on Heaven's Door" author and Harvard Prof. Lisa Randall describes how art can clarify the difficult concepts that physicists often encounter in the purely abstract, in the math.
She was recently awarded the Andrew Gemant Award, which is given annually for significant contributions to the cultural, artistic, or humanistic dimension of physics.
Like her, we think art can make physics sensational. Take, for example, time dilation. Does it have a color? Does it beat to the flourishes of Grandmaster Flash or Bach? Can it be touched or embedded in ambient, smart objects that respond to our presence? Prof. Randall, have you ever thought about an orbiting public art project that would bring time dilation to our senses?
Perhaps relativity just needs to escape the textbooks and make its way to our fingertips for its truth be realized - one fried brain at a time.
All-access passes to see Lisa Randall and many other scientific and creative pioneers at IdeaFestival 2012 are now available. I hope to see you there.
Wayne