DARK MATTERS

Curated and conceived by artist David Faithfull, DARK MATTERS is a project between artists, astronomers and space engineers. Through collaboration, it aims to engage existing scientific and artistic communities and their respective audiences, sharing and exchanging ideas in both astronomical theory, the science of space and contemporary artistic practice.

DARK MATTERS is a collaborative partnership between Edinburgh Printmakers, the UKATC and Edinburgh University. Based at Edinburgh Observatory, the UKATC is STFC funded. They are currently working on the ESA’s E-ELT telescope and worked extensively on the Hubble project.

Artist’s themes include investigations into Einstein’s general theory of relativity, Newton’s ‘Principia’, exoplanets, the creation of new constellations, transforming the Infrared from distant galaxies, replicating solar/lunar eclipses and attempting to freeze/unfreeze sound waves.

Selecting the themes and project collaborations developed through an initial Pecha Kucha evening of presentations, at the Edinburgh Observatory from all artists and astronomer/engineers prior to a ‘speed dating’ style of interaction. Subsequently collaborative proposals were submitted to Faithfull/EP for consideration.

Although the artists will be advancing varied processes of production and installation, working with current astronomical theories and technological processes, the partnership with Edinburgh Printmakers, guarantees each artist will investigate the medium of print to some degree.

This has included grinding Anorthosite or moon-rock up and gilding a 3D-printed model of the comet 67P/CG with ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft.

DARK MATTERS launched in conjunction with the Solar Eclipse on 20.03.15, coinciding Faithfull’s ‘Moon draw Sun, Earth draws Moon’ launch with Alastiar Clark and Mike Inglis’ exhibitions at Edinburgh Printmakers galleries.