Zac Henderson’s photographs are influenced by humanity’s effort to understand its place in the cosmos. The artist is fascinated by astrophysics, black holes and the quantum realm, and looks for new ways of visually representing abstract scientific concepts. Henderson’s series, Dark Matter, imagines how these imperceivable particles, which make up 30% of the universe and are only identifiable by gravitational pull, would look. He uses ceramic magnets to coax small iron grains into unique forms, creating sculptures that he then photographs. Henderson said: “Inspired by science, yet unencumbered by its rigors, I set out to make something visible and tactile whilst still nodding to its intangibility, and so these sculptures and subsequent photographs made from magnetism came into being.” It would be easy to believe the images are entirely digital, but Henderson painstakingly molds each piece until it aligns with his vision. Stalagmites of iron spill out in every direction, like a firework caught mid-explosion. The metallic surfaces reflect pinks and blues, giving the magnets a neon glow. The results are captivating, bringing the unknowable to life in awe-inspiring detail.
All images courtesy of the artist.
