‘The flow of time” Installation

Write-Up

For the Time Metropolis final I created a visual representation of what the new quantum theory describes as ‘the flow of time’. My idea was to create a 3 dimensional installation that would be interactive. The new quantum theory states that the arrow of time is an arrow of increasing correlations between particles. My overall goal was to exhibit this idea in a visual way so people could actually see the theory instead of just reading about it. The theory states that “when two particles interact, they can no longer even be described by their own, independently evolving probabilities, called “pure states.” Instead, they become entangled components of a more complicated probability distribution that describes both particles together.”

I started off my idea and my planning by choosing my materials. I was planning on using a wooden board as a base, pins as particles, and string as correlations. As my research, and planning evolved I made some changes. Since I wanted my installation to be interactive, I considered my professors advice and I incorporated light into my project. For this reason I used a clear styrene base instead. Additionally I chose transparent pins in order for them to blend into the base. As for the string, I used different colors, thicknesses, and textures to add to the complex design. Mostly the colors range from neutral to warm colors. I chose this palette after learning about color theory and how warm colors represent passion, and the building up of something -which in my case was time.

Building the installation was an exciting challenge. I thought that the pins would easily go into the board but they didn’t. For this reason, I used a lighter to warm up the tips of the pins in order for them to be completely attached to the board when I pushed them in. After I attached all of my particles (pins) in my board I began to make correlations between them. I started with white string, and as I went on the ‘arrow of time’ horizontally, I chose a warmer shade. Creating the design was based on my own interpretation of the theory.

I was surprised to find that I was using many of the concepts that I had learned without even thinking about it. When I showed people the design that I was going to render on the board, they would think it was just a design. They were experiencing secondness, and it was not until I explained the design in relation to the theory that everything made sense to them; hence thirdness. Lastly, my project is very representative of the Gestalt principles since the whole of the installation is greater than the sum of its individual parts or particles. Each independent pin (particle) contains little to no information when its on its own as opposed to when it is correlated with others.

Once I finished my installation, I knew that in my presentation I wanted to concisely explain the scientific part of the theory and use the rest of the time to exhibit my work in light. The aim of this piece was to provide a visual representation of a theory that is commonly explained in words. I am proud of my work, as well as how I feel about this class in terms of improvement.

  Map of my presentation / Topics and theories discussed