Six years ago, scientists used an instrument from Earth to detect gravitational waves — a prediction made a century earlier by Albert Einstein.
The discovery confirmed Einstein’s theory of general relativity and it opened up a whole new way to see the universe.
Now, that new view of the world and beyond is being captured in a show by three multi-media artists who also share a passion for science.
Their exhibit, titled A Mysterious Attraction, will open Thursday at PoMoArts (formerly the Port Moody Arts Centre) and, at 7:15 p.m., they’ll tour the gallery and talk about their work for an online reception via Facebook Live.
“In this project, we engage a force in nature to become our artistic brush,” they wrote in their artists’ statement. “Thus, we hope that the viewers will be inspired to experience our universe in a different way.”
But although their display was influenced by gravitational waves, the art by Edzy Edzed, Pierre Leichner and Bill Westwell also draws on abstract expressionism as well as spin and fluid art.
Specifically, they are inspired by the techniques used by Eugene Pera, Jean Tanguely, Alfons Schilling, Annik Gendron and Damien Hirst (for spinning canvasses); David Alfaro Siquerios (fluid painting); and Jackson Pollock and Helen Frankenthaler (pouring or splashing paint).
Edzed, who has his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Victoria, works in his original “deconstruction” style while Leichner has his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Emily Carr University of Art + Design and an MFA from Concordia University, and focuses his art on environmental and mental health themes.
Westwell, a lifelong artist, is also influenced by the environment.
The gallery at PoMoArts is open for physically distanced viewings from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Call 604-931-2008 or visit pomoarts.ca.
