Artist Kamil Adam Hassim brings together science, music, art and spirituality in his new exhibition, String Theory, on display at the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP).

The exhibition, which opened on September 16, runs until March 27, 2027.

Hassim describes himself as a cosmotechnologist, inspired by the work of technology philosopher Prof Yuk Hui of Erasmus University Rotterdam.

For Hassim, art extends beyond galleries and museums.

“Art points to an essence of nature and humanity. Creation; it’s a force of nature. It lives in space. It lives in the real world. My grandmother’s cooking is art. The arc of a life is art,” he said.

Much of String Theory was inspired by research Hassim began during a 2021 residency at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland.

At the centre of the exhibition is a series of handmade musical instruments that also function as particle detectors.

The instruments capture electronic signals created when cosmic rays collide with the atmosphere above the exhibition. These signals are converted into magnetic fields, causing the instruments’ strings to vibrate.

“There’s a lot going on in the show. It’s looking at science, it’s looking at art, it’s looking at music, it’s looking at culture, it’s looking at society, it’s looking at spirituality,” Hassim said.

Cosmic radiation inspires artwork

One standout work is Self Portrait as a Nightsky, a black woven-thread tapestry created from a 24-hour exposure to cosmic radiation.

The work incorporates objects connected to Hassim’s life, including scientific instruments, a particle detector, an original tape deck containing particle collision data from the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, an overtone flute and a bundle of his hair grown over five years.

A small toy race car his uncle gave Hassim as a child is also included; it inspired his childhood fascination with designing cars and helped draw attention to his artistic ability.

Wayfinder explores Polynesian navigation

Another significant work, Wayfinder, consists of two ink portraits inspired by philosophies that have influenced Hassim’s practice.

The concept of wayfinding draws on the traditional knowledge of Polynesian navigators, who used natural signs and oral traditions to navigate the Pacific Ocean.

“It’s really a way of navigating life. The method of wayfinding is like what I do,” Hassim said.

Puleng Plessie, curator of education and public programmes at Javett-UP, said the exhibition encourages visitors to spend time with the work, ask questions and make connections.

Javett-UP is open Tuesday to Saturday and on the last Sunday of every month from 10:00 to 16:00.

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