Documenting the Mathematical Scribbles of Geniuses

CERN

Since 2010, Spanish artist Alejandro Guijarro has been traveling to several Quantum Mechanics institutions across the globe. He photographs their blackboards that are filled with the mathematical scribblings of some of the greatest minds in the world. The photographer walks into each facility's lecture halls and proceeds to snap shots of the blackboards without modifying the board or interfering with the original arrangement of the space. The ongoing series titled Momentum presents an honest look at the intellectual scrawls, some of which have been wiped away.

Guijarro humbly admits that the project isn't orchestrated to elicit a deep, indisputable message through images. A modest press release reads: “Stripped of their wrapping they are photographs of large drawings!” However, they are a bit more than just snapshots of blackboards. The series documents the work of brilliant physicists. There's something artistically intriguing about the clutter of formulas and accompanying diagrams squeezed in. Even the erased boards are telling of one facility's practices versus others. Ultimately, this is a natural merge between science and art.

Momentum is currently on display at Tristan Hoare in London through November 30, 2012.


Berkeley


Cambridge


Stanford (left) and Cambridge (right)


CERN


Berkeley


Oxford


Stanford


SLAC


Cambridge

Alejandro Guijarro website
via [Staceythinx]

Pinar

Pinar Noorata (she/her) is the Editorial Director at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. She also runs her own art & culture newsletter called The High Low. She first joined the My Modern Met team in 2011 as a Contributing Writer, pitching and publishing articles about a wide range of topics. Her expertise in visual media lends itself to in-depth analysis of varied art forms, including but not limited to painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, design, and photography. Pinar has a particular affinity for spotlighting up-and-coming artists, affording them a platform and offering a voice to lesser-heard individuals looking to break through, especially BIPOC creatives. She has helped multiple artists make a name for themselves and reach a wider audience over 10+ years as a writer and editor (both through long-form articles and short-form videos). When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching films and TV, reading, crafting, drawing, frequenting museums and galleries, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits