Alya E (Alisa Eremeeva)
quantum×crystal
Quantum chemical calculations are one of the cornerstones of contemporary science, but for many scientists they remain somewhat of a black box when compared to more tangible experiments. In some contexts, they are met with scepticism, while in others they are an indispensable tool to work with matter that cannot be directly observed.
quantum×crystal invites us to view this type of calculation as an interconnected web of participants: the scientists who develop the methods and programmes, the researchers who use them in practice, the theory of quantum mechanics, and the objects of studies themselves, whose properties have an impact on the development of research models. Rather than a neutral tool, the calculation is seen as a process in which theory, practice, and material continuously affect and transform one another.
The viewer has the opportunity to become part of this network. By controlling the process with the help of an interactive interface, the viewer can turn from a mere outside observer to a link in the chain, able to influence the resulting configuration of the system. The project does not provide an answer to whether the calculations are magic, but allows the viewer to feel a sense of participation in the creation of a “truth”—one that is always more complex than just a set of numbers on a screen.
quantum×crystal
Quantum chemical calculations are one of the cornerstones of contemporary science, but for many scientists they remain somewhat of a black box when compared to more tangible experiments. In some contexts, they are met with scepticism, while in others they are an indispensable tool to work with matter that cannot be directly observed.
quantum×crystal invites us to view this type of calculation as an interconnected web of participants: the scientists who develop the methods and programmes, the researchers who use them in practice, the theory of quantum mechanics, and the objects of studies themselves, whose properties have an impact on the development of research models. Rather than a neutral tool, the calculation is seen as a process in which theory, practice, and material continuously affect and transform one another.
The viewer has the opportunity to become part of this network. By controlling the process with the help of an interactive interface, the viewer can turn from a mere outside observer to a link in the chain, able to influence the resulting configuration of the system. The project does not provide an answer to whether the calculations are magic, but allows the viewer to feel a sense of participation in the creation of a “truth”—one that is always more complex than just a set of numbers on a screen.