« Clinamen » Series

Clinamen XIV – acrylic on canvas – 2022 – 80×60 cm – © Adagp

Clinamen X – acrylic on canvas – 2022 – 80×60 cm – © Adagp

Clinamen VII – acrylic on canvas – 2022 – 80×60 cm – © Adagp

Clinamen VIII – acrylic on canvas – 2022 – 80×60 cm – © Adagp

 

Matter would be composed of atoms___

The idea that matter is composed of atoms dates back to the 6^th or 5^th century BCE. The concept appears to have been introduced first in India in the 6^th century BCE, before being taken up by the Greeks in the 5^th century BCE, with Democritus building on the ideas of Leucippus.

Random deviation of atoms falling through the void___

The Greek philosopher Epicurus, developing the idea of Nature as composed of atoms and void, introduced the concept of clinamen - from the Greek, meaning declination. He defined it as a random deviation of atoms falling through the void. Through successive collisions, this original declination would give rise to the world as we know it…

Many centuries later___

This pictorial series pursues a twofold aim. On one hand, it pays homage to the Greek thinkers who laid the foundations of atomist thought - what began as a thought experiment was later confirmed as scientific truth, centuries after its conception.

On the other, the series rests on the artist's intention to translate visually this idea of the appearance, or emergence, of the world.