Qubit
The Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS) is holding an art contest called ‘Qubit’ to share the excitement of basic science with the art community and the general public. Spin and quantum mechanics are the main subjects of QNS’s research. QNS hopes that this contest can create a bridge between its researchers and the people who have interest in science. The winners and the final round artwork may be exhibited in the Research Cooperation Building at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.
Program details
Subject: Qubit and/or Quantum
Art Categories
Painting, digital illustration, photography, video
Qualification
Open to the general public and students (Team or individual)
Award and Prize
| QNS Director’s Prize | 3,000,000 won | One prize |
| Second Prize | 2,000,000 won | Two prizes |
| Third Prize | 1,000,000 won | Two prizes |
| Qubit Streamer Youtube Prize | 2,000,000 won | One prize |
| Elementary School Special Prize | – | One prize |
| Elementary School Special Prize | – | Three prizes |
Winners
QNS Director’s Prize
LEE Nayeon
Qubit Messenger, 80.3×116.8 cm and 2 minutes 57 seconds Canvas, water binder, and thermochromic ink
Artist’s Statement
These are print and video works themed around qubits. For the print work, I utilized the silk screen technique, applying thermochromic ink that changes to purple and blue when heated to over 35 degrees Celsius. The motifs in the drawings are variously designed ’qubits.’ I conceived them as messengers conveying information (messages) to users, serving as the processing units of information in quantum computers. The basic motif is composed of circular shapes. Inspired by the idea of the ‘quantum model,’ where electrons revolve around the atomic nucleus in a circular pattern, I based the fundamental model of the qubit, also known as the ‘quantum bit,’ on this circular form. The protrusions within the motifs represent the different information that qubits possess. By overlapping motifs, I aimed to represent the freedom of quantum particles to simultaneously have the properties of both particles and waves. The act of applying heat corresponds to ‘observation’ in quantum mechanics. Motifs that do not turn purple when heated are visualizations of ‘quantum entanglement,’ where it can be predicted that they will automatically turn blue, a characteristic of quantum mechanics. In the unheated state, the picture is black, but when heated, it simultaneously holds the possibility of appearing purple or blue. I visualized the quantum superposition, where qubits can simultaneously hold the values of 0 and 1.
For the video work, I drew inspiration from the origin of spin, the momentum of particles, and depicted the rotation of qubits. Although particles do not actually rotate, I aimed to enhance accessibility and understanding among the general public through intuitive representation. The varying rotation speed and direction of each qubit represent the freedom of quantum particles
Second Prize
KWON Minkyung
Everything All at Once, 76.2×40.3 cm, Digital print on diasec
Second Prize
LIM Sung Yeon
Entangled Reality, 390.9×130.3 cm, Acrylic on canvas
Third Prize
BAE Il Rin
Mercy of Entanglement, 200×180 cm, Acrylic on canvas
Third Prize
PARK Kyung
Salon 7, 145×65 cm, Acrylic on canvas
Qubit Streamer Youtube Prize
CHAE Heesu, KIM Dohyun, AHN Shinyoung, KIM Gaeun
IN, Video
Elementary School Special Prize
The Secret of the Moment, 39×27 cm, Watercolor on paper
The Future of Speed, 39×27 cm, Pasnet and colored pencil on paper
The Future of Speed, 39×27 cm, Pasnet and colored pencil on paper
The Path in the Micro-world, 39×27 cm, Watercolor and colored pencil on paper
Download the Catalog
Contact: art@qns.science