Applied mathematics occasionally manifests in unexpected, beautiful ways. One such example is the collaborative Collective Entanglements project, which is the physical culmination of an exciting journey of art, math, and science. In 2016, the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas (KU) secured funding for its new Arts Research Integration (ARI) program, which connects artists with high-level research projects in the sciences and humanities to promote interdisciplinary practices, generate an effective dialogue about subjects that directly impact daily life, and appeal to the general public. As per the Spencer Museum’s website, the ARI program recognizes “that the creation of art is a research methodology in its own right, and one that has much to contribute to the study of our world.” Joey Orr became the program’s first Curator for Research the following year, and high-energy nuclear physicist Daniel Tapia Takaki of KU was later appointed as an ARI Faculty Fellow. Tapia Takaki then recruited mathematician Agnieszka Międlar (now at Virginia Tech) as another ARI Faculty Fellow, while Orr contacted New York-based artist Janet Biggs — whose deep experience with interdisciplinary teamwork and familiarity with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) made her an especially valuable asset.
In 2020, the artist, physicist, mathematician, and museum curator began to meet regularly via Zoom to discuss potential directions for their atypical partnership, and a long-term collaboration was born. Our joint efforts resulted in the Collective Entanglements project, which utilizes time-based media to explore critical questions in high-energy physics and applies innovative mathematical methods to the production of video and performance. In April 2022, Collective Entanglements unveiled its inaugural public programming, which featured keynote talks, panels led by graduate students, and comprehensive roundtable dialogues. Subsequent exhibitions have expanded upon the themes of the project, and additional showcases are currently in preparation. Throughout this endeavor, we questioned the meanings of “fundamental” and “time” and asked ourselves questions like What is art? Is mathematics an art? and Can physics create art? But most importantly, we explored these questions together.
