A broken symmetry — the cat’s parabola

At the moment of the primordial event (scientists call it the “Big Bang”), the universe had a high degree of symmetry, meaning its properties were consistent in all directions. As the universe evolved, some of those symmetries broke down, leading to the formation of matter and the diversity we observe today. Recent studies of this symmetry, and ways of breaking it, have helped modern physics uncover the origins of mass, the behavior of particles, and the structure of the universe itself, providing profound insights into the fundamental nature of reality.

In “A broken symmetry — the cat’s parabola,” HAL09999 experiments with slight variations on the initial conditions of a system made from millions of particles. By using simple physics in what the artist calls a “quasi-simulation,” these pixels are scattered through the space of the screen without any intention of a specific outcome. Any shapes observed in the final images are the consequence of the primordial asymmetry applied to the original system.

Without reference to scale, these works can represent the fundamental forms of phenomena that are typically invisible to the eye. Whether they are the shapes of cosmic birth and its expansion, splattered particles that make up the material world, or even intangible memories, these works share the harmony within the asymmetrical nature of our existence.