Two vast paintings inspired by “one of the most ambitious scientific theories” proposed by physicist Lord Kelvin will be unveiled at the University of Glasgow.
The Light Universe and The Dark Universe, created by Scottish artist Gregor Harvie, will be permanently installed in the newly refurbished Kelvin Building from Thursday, June 4.
Their unveiling will coincide with the start of the Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art and the Glasgow Science Festival.
Read more:
New art exhibition to open this summer as part of Glasgow International 2026
HUGE brand new mural painted in Glasgow city centre revealed
Here’s why a new glowing message is lighting up Glasgow’s skyline
The Light Universe and The Dark Universe, created by Scottish artist Gregor Harvie, will be unveiled at the University of Glasgow this June (Image: Supplied)
Gregor Harvie said: “Kelvin’s ether is both mind-bendingly complex and breathtakingly simple.
“As an artist, the idea that there might be an invisible structure underpinning everything is deeply compelling – something we cannot see and cannot do without.
“These paintings explore the tension between what we can measure and describe and what still lies beyond our understanding.”
The works, which use artificial intelligence, advanced 3D computer modelling and layered painting techniques, reconstruct Kelvin’s all-pervading ether, a theory for the structure of the universe.
In Victorian times, the idea of an ether was used to describe how light could travel through a vacuum, and in 1887, Glasgow’s Lord Kelvin proposed the Kelvin Cell as the most efficient possible solution.
Professor David Ireland, head of the School of Physics and Astronomy, said: “These paintings are a fitting tribute to one of Kelvin’s most profound ideas and to the refurbished Kelvin Building, home of the School of Physics and Astronomy.
“Kelvin himself tried to build a model of his ether using wire and soap bubbles, but it is only now, with the help of computer modelling, that we can see it in its full glory.”
Working with researchers from Glasgow University’s Quantum Theory Group, Gregor Harvie has digitally recreated thousands of interconnected Kelvin Cells to form a complex lattice that is the basis of his two paintings.
Read more:
Glasgow-based artist’s explosive work earns place in major UK exhibition
Experimental art show enters final weeks at Glasgow Print Studio
New Glasgow exhibition set to bring mermaid folklore into digital age
The Light Universe and The Dark Universe, created by Scottish artist Gregor Harvie, will be unveiled at the University of Glasgow this June (Image: Supplied)
Professor Stephen Barnett, head of the Quantum Theory Group at the University of Glasgow, said: “It’s fantastic to see Kelvin’s idea brought to life in these extraordinarily beautiful paintings.
“Kelvin imagined an astonishingly sophisticated geometry for the structure of space nearly 140 years ago using only pencil and paper.
“The ether is a concept that scientists have come back to again and again, and is one we still see aspects of in ideas like quantum field theory.”
The Light Universe is a field of flowing colour and energy representing the visible, measurable cosmos.
The Dark Universe, on the other hand, is a more fragmented monochrome patchwork inspired by dark matter and dark energy, believed to make up 95% of the universe yet still largely unexplained.
Professor Declan Diver, academic lead for the refurbishment of the Kelvin Building, said: “The Kelvin Building brings together two landmark listed structures by celebrated architects James Miller and Basil Spence.
“Our major refurbishment programme is now nearing completion, creating a modern, accessible environment with new entrances, a pedestrian bridge, lifts and upgraded facilities.
“We are delighted that Gregor’s remarkable paintings will form a focal point within the original entrance foyer, transforming the space with ambitious, thought-provoking works that connect art, science and the history of the building itself.”
The paintings will be on permanent display in the first-floor foyer of the Kelvin Building.