The poetry of quantum: An interview with artist-in-residence Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan and King's physicist James Millen

The programme and accompanying event series connects artists and audiences with partners in technology, culture, science and education to foster an open dialogue on the topic of quantum technologies and the arts.

Earlier this year, Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, a Dublin-based writer, performer and cultural consultant from India was selected to partner with Dr James Millen, an experimental quantum scientist and Director of King’s Quantum – a research centre dedicated to exploring quantum technologies. We caught up with Chandrika and James, at the start of her residency to find out how she plans to use the power of poetry to uncover new perspectives on quantum.

Tell us about how you came to partner through this scheme?

James

“I’ve worked on science-arts collaborations a number of times with the Science Gallery, and greatly appreciate the thoughtful way in which they approach these partnerships, making sure there is impact both on the audience and the parties involved.

When I was approached with this opportunity my first requirement was to not collaborate with a visual artist or a musician! In my opinion, much of the confusion around quantum physics is that we naturally try to picture the unknowable and see the unthinkable – literally the name of my last Science Gallery project aimed to portray this conundrum! So, I honestly believe that it's not possible to usefully visualise quantum physics.

However, language transcends visual limitations, and can appeal directly to the imagination, forcing the audience to interpret the meaning themselves. I think this is truer to the way that quantum physics actually works, so I’m delighted to get to partner with Chandrika to explore how we can use language to fire imaginations and unearth accessible ways for publics to comprehend this complex but fascinating world.”

Chandrika

“For a while I’ve been interested in communicating science through poetry, and most recently did a residency with the Institute of Physics on this theme. My interest was first peaked by reading Collision: Stories from the Science of CERN an anthology of stories from award-winning authors paired with CERN physicists aimed at exploring some of the discoveries being made through fiction.

My residency with the Institute of Physics saw me partner with physicists to uncover the human stories behind their discoveries, which I then based my poems on. My additional aim was to platform voices from backgrounds and identities underrepresented in STEM.

What struck me, was the realities of discovery – that the pivotal moments far from taking place in the lab, were rather unexpected, occurring over a pint in the pub or in conversation with others. I developed a pamphlet showcasing the poems based on this work.”

What are your plans for this project?

Chandrika

“I am completely new to the world of quantum, so I see this residency as a journey of discovery during which I’ll be developing my ideas in collaboration with James and his group of researchers and PhD students.

I am learning about quantum through James’ Royal Institution lectures on an introduction to quantum theory, through a bi-weekly tutorial series on quantum and art run by Studio Quantum, and through my own research.

I am also meeting with researchers introduced to me by James – with the aim of interviewing some of them about their career trajectory and experiences of researching quantum, with a focus on researchers who self-identify as ‘migrants’. I am exploring whether any part of them find resonances between their research and identity, in terms of the world of quantum.

One of my first events was a collaboration with King’s physicist Professor Eugene Lim, where we explored the undetermined, dynamic, and fragmented nature of human perception, and the difference and also the overlaps between physics and philosophy in the world of quantum.

From 1-10 November, I’m taking part in a quantum art showcase in Berlin called Fertile Void alongside fellow Studio Quantum artists from around the world. I’ll be collaborating with performance artist David Odiase in a spoken word showcase, focusing on storytelling, folklore, and the parallels between quantum and indigenous ideas and frameworks, such non-linear time. This link between quantum theories and indigenous knowledge is one I’m also exploring.

Finally, on 26 November at the Science Gallery I’ll be sharing some of the outputs from my residency at a special event with James, another performance artist, Lisa Minerva Luxx whose short story in Collision inspired this entire trajectory, and potentially another artist. I’ll be performing some of my new pieces, and then we’ll be discussing the relationship between literature and quantum, and why quantum is something that uniquely resonates with the complexity of human identity.”

What does quantum mean to you?

Chandrika

“I’m still getting to grips with this fascinating theory and I really want to make sure I have a solidly scientific understanding of it. But so far, to me it’s about holding multiple outcomes, it’s about the moment of collapse occurring at observation.

I am also really interested in the history of quantum. When we consider quantum it’s always about looking forward, but the beginnings of contemporary quantum research came about in Weimar Germany in the 1920s, which James told me about. However, as I mentioned above, I think if you look at knowledge developed by indigenous peoples centuries before this, they were using concepts about how time works, outcomes, potentialities – that sound quantum to us, so these are non—Western concepts, they existed way before contemporary Western knowledge."

What are you both hoping to get out of this collaboration, and how can art inspire scientists and science inspire artists?

James

“Chandrika is an engaging and inspiring artist, and I hope she will help my team and I articulate our research in a new way. I hope together we can also explore the boundaries of what is mysterious and what is not, and I suspect this will throw up some surprises.

So far, Chandrika has already said that she doesn't find so many of the more mysterious aspect of quantum physics mysterious, so I think it will be enlightening to discuss this, and learn how each one of us thinks differently about these complex ways of deciphering reality.”

Chandrika

“One of my MA theses was a case study on the Festival of Curiosity in Dublin – where I surveyed both scientists and science organisations, and artists and arts organisations, and found that that the scientists got more out of it than the artists. It was an entirely new experience for them where they liked seeing their own work through someone else’s lens, and seeing their story told in a way they’d never have thought to tell it themselves.

I also find that the scientists I work with are often artists themselves – whether musicians or interested in visual art or cultural practices. They are creative people, and the lines are often blurred between the arts and the sciences.

I would question neutrality or objectivity in science – and in general, ­even though we might perceive it that way. So much of ‘discovery’ is built on exploitation and the erasure of knowledge from individuals or peoples who don’t fit the approved colonial, capitalist, and patriarchal narrative.

The other thing I find interesting is that, theories are only true until they’re disapproved. The scientific process is often about failing, which whilst it may sometimes be traumatic for the individual – and I’ve written poetry about this, it advances the field and enables future discoveries. On both sides – art and science - the personal side hits hard, but in terms of problem solving it’s a good thing to fail.

Everything is an attempt – art and science are just different languages trying to understand the what, the why, and the how in everything around us. I’m excited about further exploring these questions, and even about maybe failing. It’s all part of the process and I’m just happy to be part of it.”