A vocabulary for the future: touch
A mesmerising blend of words and images make touch a doorway into the deepest questions in physics and philosophy - by Aeon Video Watch on Aeon
In the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona's series, A Vocabulary for the Future, theoretical physicist and feminist theorist Karen Barad examines the concept of touch. Barad begins by pondering the classical physics notion that touch never truly occurs, as our perception of contact is merely electromagnetic repulsion between atoms never making physical contact.
However, when viewed through the lens of quantum field theory, Barad posits that touch is not the result of separate bodies failing to meet, but rather a fundamental aspect of matter's identity. This perspective is visually interpreted by Barcelona-based digital artist Blanca Rego, creating an evocative collection of images that, combined with Barad's reflections, transform the everyday experience of touch into a gateway to profound inquiries in physics and philosophy.
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