Diffracting the Copenhagen Interpretation: Toward Non-Local Collaborative Art Practices

This project delves into the intersection of quantum field theory and transdisciplinary artistic research. It explores how quantum concepts like non-locality, indeterminacy, spacetime, and entanglement resonate within artistic and pedagogical practices. By integrating theoretical study with collective artistic experimentation, we aim to develop new collaborative methodologies informed by the philosophical and humanistic aspects of quantum physics, particularly those advanced by Niels Bohr and later expanded in contemporary philosophy and the arts.

Between March and October 2023, we initiated a KUV modningsprojekt that included intensive study sessions, collaborative work with students, and transdisciplinary workshops with experts. Through these engagements, we explored how quantum physics concepts can be translated into artistic tools and how diffractive methodologies can be developed to enhance transdisciplinary potential in both artistic creation and education. Our experiments centered on concepts like uncertainty, superpositionality, and diffraction, chosen for their importance in physics, their relevance to artistic practices, and their contribution to social justice discourses.

We now aim to advance this research by focusing on non-locality and indeterminacy, particularly in the context of creating new collaborative artistic protocols. Our goal is to develop methods for producing and performing collective works in multiple locations simultaneously, reducing the need for physical displacement. The project will manifest through performances, cartographies, audio work, and written reflections, all framed by a diffractive methodological approach.

Expected outcomes include the creation of a new methodological framework for collaborative and transdisciplinary artistic practices, the production of new artworks, and a public seminar to present and discuss the project’s findings. The project’s documentation and dissemination will occur through a digital exposition on the Research Catalogue platform, ensuring broad accessibility and fostering ongoing dialogue within the field of diffractive artistic research.

The project is cross-institutional and is conducted in close collaboration between RMC and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts' School of Conceptual and Contextual Practices, with Søren Kjærgaard and Carla Zaccagnini as project collaborators.