James de Villiers
Johannesburg, South Africa
My art is a meditation on nature and an investigation of the forces that lie behind outward appearances
MessageCollection: Laniakea: Thought as Linear Expression
These artworks are a convergence of science, spirituality, and the natural world, deeply influenced by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the concepts of decay and chaos, ancient Hindu cosmology, and the grand structure of Laniakea—the immense supercluster of galaxies to which our Milky Way belongs. At the core of my work lies an exploration of decay and chaos, seen both in the natural world and within the subatomic realm.
Using drawing, painting and randomized silkscreen printing techniques, I capture the transient beauty of decay—whether in the form of wilting flowers or the disintegration of particles following high-energy collisions at the LHC. These chaotic processes, often seen as destructive, also speak to transformation and renewal, themes that are central to both particle physics and ancient Hindu cosmology. The LHC's high-energy collisions, which break particles apart to reveal the fundamental forces of nature, serve as a powerful metaphor in my art. I abstract these interactions, using lines, curves, and colors to represent the energy, movement, and potential hidden within the chaos. This is paralleled by the cyclical nature of Hindu cosmology, where creation and destruction are intertwined, reflecting a universe in constant flux. Laniakea, the vast supercluster of galaxies, adds another dimension to my work.
This concept of interconnectedness on an incomprehensible scale resonates with my exploration of the micro and macro—particles at one end, and galaxies at the other. The grand structure of Laniakea symbolizes the order within chaos, where millions of galaxies are bound together by gravity, forming a colossal cosmic web. Through abstract interpretation, I aim to connect the viewer with the fundamental forces of nature, the beauty of decay, and the vastness of the universe. My work seeks to evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation, where science, art, and spirituality meet.
By bridging these realms, I offer new perspectives on the intricate dance of creation, destruction, and the interconnectedness of all things, from the smallest particles to the largest cosmic structures.
Using drawing, painting and randomized silkscreen printing techniques, I capture the transient beauty of decay—whether in the form of wilting flowers or the disintegration of particles following high-energy collisions at the LHC. These chaotic processes, often seen as destructive, also speak to transformation and renewal, themes that are central to both particle physics and ancient Hindu cosmology. The LHC's high-energy collisions, which break particles apart to reveal the fundamental forces of nature, serve as a powerful metaphor in my art. I abstract these interactions, using lines, curves, and colors to represent the energy, movement, and potential hidden within the chaos. This is paralleled by the cyclical nature of Hindu cosmology, where creation and destruction are intertwined, reflecting a universe in constant flux. Laniakea, the vast supercluster of galaxies, adds another dimension to my work.
This concept of interconnectedness on an incomprehensible scale resonates with my exploration of the micro and macro—particles at one end, and galaxies at the other. The grand structure of Laniakea symbolizes the order within chaos, where millions of galaxies are bound together by gravity, forming a colossal cosmic web. Through abstract interpretation, I aim to connect the viewer with the fundamental forces of nature, the beauty of decay, and the vastness of the universe. My work seeks to evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation, where science, art, and spirituality meet.
By bridging these realms, I offer new perspectives on the intricate dance of creation, destruction, and the interconnectedness of all things, from the smallest particles to the largest cosmic structures.
