Selected work

{ }

A cube built to reduce as far as possible every interaction with what it contains: an ultrahigh-vacuum space.

Year2013

Materials20 different scientific, industrial and construction materials, arranged in successive layers to protect the ultra-high vacuum. Among them: silica aerogel, mu-metal, lead, stainless steel, LT sheets, elastomeric foam, fiberglass, expanded polystyrene, plaster, cement, wood, reinforced concrete and iron (outer shell).

Dimensions83 × 83 × 83 cm

Weight1 tonne (approx.)

ExhibitionBCN Producció ’13, Espai Cub, La Capella, Barcelona · 09.10–17.11.2013

Long-term displayALBA Synchrotron · 2018–2025

Production supportHangar, Barcelona

Also exhibited atBiennal Ciutat i Ciència 2025, El Born. Museu d’Història de Barcelona

The starting point of { } was a very physical question: how far can one go in constructing a space where interactions are reduced to a minimum? Inside the cube is an ultrahigh-vacuum capsule, a space from which air has been removed until its pressure is far below atmospheric pressure.

Around the vacuum I arranged 20 different materials in successive layers, moving from specialist scientific materials closer to the core to industrial and construction materials on the outside. Each was selected to protect the vacuum against possible disturbance: temperature shifts, water, humidity, fire, mechanical stress, impacts, sound, light, radiation and electromagnetic fields. The outer shell is iron, with reinforced concrete among the layers.

A physical nothingness protected, as far as possible, from everything happening around it.

1. A void inside the cube

What is visible is a compact metallic volume. What defines the work, however, is precisely what cannot be seen: the ultrahigh-vacuum space it contains and the attempt to limit the possibilities of interaction inside it.

2. Layers against interaction

The cube contains 20 different protective materials. The original project description identifies, among others, silica aerogel, mu-metal, lead, stainless steel, LT sheets, elastomeric foam, fiberglass, expanded polystyrene, plaster, cement, wood, reinforced concrete and iron. A complete verified inventory of all 20 materials is not presented here.

3. Espai Cub · BCN Producció ’13

The work was presented at the centre of Espai Cub at La Capella as part of BCN Producció ’13. A cube of many cubes inside another cube: a physical singularity placed in the middle of an exhibition space and, at the same time, in the middle of the city.

From 2018 to 2025, the work was on display at the ALBA Synchrotron. I received production assistance from Hangar.

Years later, { } was also exhibited as part of Biennal Ciutat i Ciència 2025 at El Born. Museu d’Història de Barcelona.

{ }

1. A void inside the cube

2. Layers against interaction

3. Espai Cub · BCN Producció ’13

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