Through, initially, questioning the validity of scientific knowledge in the Anglo-American cultural landscape, an exploration into how new discovery provides new perspectives was developed. By calling upon the nature of optical illusions, The Void of Certainty explores the extent to which we can trust our visual tools for perception as a microcosm for deriving truth in scientific discovery.

 

The rectangular box is covered in a white silicone sheet which, when a vacuum is created inside, stretches back inside the box and reveals the abstract, organic shapes inside. On top of this phenomena is a live projection which involves filming the projection and projecting that back again. This creates an infinity effect, where the scene seems to recede into the wall.

 

The protruding organic shapes combined with the ever-evolving projection creates visual confusion as the scene starts to warp and abstract in front of your eyes. The addition of the slack tubing creates a sense of autonomy and life (rather than violently restraining the sculpture); they exist as umbilical cords, providing the fuel for life. This introduces a power dynamic between the sculpture and the viewer, as it seems the sculpture embarks on a more authoritative role over our senses. The Void of Certainty questions whether we can be sure we are the authors of what we perceive.