The Extension of Expansion

Research Project by Valentina Berthelon 

What if the boundaries we perceive are not fixed but shift depending on our perspective? The Extension of Expansion is a generative audiovisual installation that invites people to explore a universe where the self dissolves into ainto a network of subatomic particles. Inspired by quantum physics, stellar data, and indigenous and Eastern traditions, the work reimagines our place within the cosmos.

At the heart of this project is the concept of complementarity, a principle in quantum mechanics that reveals how humans exist simultaneously as physical beings and expansive energy fields. At the human scale, we perceive ourselves as separate bodies, defined by boundaries like skin. However, at the quantum level, these boundaries dissolve. Each of us is composed of the same fundamental particles as everything around us, challenging binary notions of separation. This expanded view of reality echoes the wisdom of spiritual traditions that perceive the self as one with the universe.

Stellar spectrograms serve as a powerful metaphor for exploring complementarity. Spectroscopy, the study of how matter interacts with light is a key tool in astronomy and enables scientists to uncover the hidden properties of celestial objects—their distances, sizes, temperatures, and compositions. In the past, light was separated into colors using prisms. Today, scientists use diffraction gratings to do this. Just as a prism transforms white light into a spectrum, breaking it down into its components, particles transform our understanding of matter, showing that solid objects are not really solid but always changing.

In collaboration with Dr. Antonio S. Hales, a Chilean astrophysicist at ALMA, I translated data from seven star types into diverse visual and auditory forms. These stellar fingerprints are one of the inspiration of this installation, weaving a story of cycles and energy.

The Extension of Expansion immerses participants in a real-time generative environment. Animated visuals and evolving soundscapes create a quantum boundless space where subatomic particles vibrate at different frequencies. Humans, composed of the same elemental particles, are invited to use their most advanced technology—body, mind, and spirit—to connect with universal cycles and hidden energies around us.

When white light passes through a prism,
it breaks into its component colors, revealing the full spectrum and the beauty of diversity within a single unified source.

The haze introduced by quantum physics has opened up space for speculation and discussion of freedom, as opposed to definitive material determinism and I see in some of these theories a fertile ground to hold onto, serving as concrete tools of thought to broaden our perception of reality

Uncertainty has long taught us that we cannot fully grasp reality. Indigenous peoples recognized this, viewing nature as the visible part of an invisible universe where plants, animals, humans, mountains, and objects exist within an implicit realm. Everything that has form emerges from the formless, rooted in what remains unseen. We coexist with these invisible forces and energies, present both in the world around us and within ourselves.

Scientific Collaboration:

For this project, I collaborated with Dr. Antonio S. Hales, a Chilean astrophysicist at the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA). Dr. Hales provided detailed stellar data, which formed the basis for the visual aspects of the project. He also offered crucial guidance in interpreting and processing this data, ensuring its accurate translation into visual representations, 

Processing and Visualizing Stellar Spectra:Continuous Spectrum

Processing and Visualizing Stellar Spectra: Absorption Spectrum

Sonifying Stellar Spectra

Together with sound artist Bruno Gola and Prof. Alberto de Campo, we developed a SuperCollider patch to sonify the spectral data of the seven stellar types (O, B, A, F, G, K, M). By mapping their spectral lines, we generated evolving atmospheres and rhythmic variations, translating the unique characteristics of each star type into sound. At the exhibition, participants will be able to interact with this patch, mixing up to three stellar types to create their own unique soundscapes.


You can hear some of the sounds created with Prism in the following link:
https://soundcloud.com/theextensionofexpansion