First published 2021
The universe began with a singular moment that scientists have spent decades trying to understand. Thomas Hertog explores how our comprehension of cosmic origins has developed since Professor Georges Lemaître first proposed his Big Bang theory at the University of Leuven in 1931. The book examines humanity's persistent fascination with fundamental questions about cosmic beginnings and endings, tracing how both scientists and visual artists have attempted to make sense of these concepts. Hertog demonstrates that scientific theories about the universe continue to evolve, even as our basic wonder about existence remains constant. The work brings together perspectives from multiple contributors including Barbara Baert, Abdelkader Benali, Hannah Redler Hawes, and others, showing how artistic visualization has complemented scientific inquiry from Neolithic times to today. The book reveals how contemporary artworks engage directly with Big Bang theory in its various iterations, offering readers a comprehensive view of humanity's ongoing quest to visualize and understand cosmic mysteries that exceed our full comprehension.
Genres: non-fiction, biography-memoir, astronomy, art-history, academic, history-of-science
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, scientific-inquiry
Setting: Leuven
Period: 1931
304 pages · Hardcover · Hannibal Publishers