Artist: : Benjamin Vedrenne

Genre: Installation

These subatomic particles, born from black holes, supernovae, and distant stars, constantly shower the Earth, passing through our bodies and our electronic devices without us ever noticing. Using Geiger–Müller tubes, the Zettascope detects these events in real time. Each detected particle triggers a visual and melodic response: glowing filaments light up, and a tubular bell rings, composing an ever-changing melody shaped by the distant universe. Precisely built from solid walnut wood and brass, custom PCB's, allying craftmanship and electronics, and mounted on a dual-axis motorized head, the device sweeps across the sky, scanning different regions of the cosmos. Nearby screens trace each detection back to its possible celestial origin...