The first and foremost goal of this particular piece is to project the differences and contrasting views in the Classical Newtonian world of science and Quantum scientific view. The Newtonian world of science strived toward the systematization of the natural world. As expressed in the piece, Newton would have referred to the brain as a much more rationally-assembled, whole, and somewhat divine entity. In fact, Newton believed he was one of the few individual minds on the earth meant to decode and demystify the Bible in order to obtain its true connection to nature. This exemplifies a view of science that still relates to some sense of divinity; this connection is expressed with the cut-out of the Creation of Adam and systematized picture of the "geared-brain". In addition, various words were incorporated in the piece that express some of what science was believed to be at the time: a "Logical" and "Rational" way of demystifying nature's secrets that was most importantly "objective". In contrast, the views of Quantum science provide a much more uncertain and complex look at nature. One idea which is entertained in Quantum theory is this notion of subjectivity and how objectivity is problematic. As Max Plank, the father of Quantum, said, "Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve". Two ways the piece exemplifies this notion is with the eye-shaped galaxy picture and the optical illusion of an old couple. In the case of the eye-shaped galaxy, the eye is part of the universe; showing us that we are bound to our own self and subjectivity. However, in addition to this, it shows that the very body one is confined to is essentially part of the natural world and thus can only see a part of the universe and not the whole. This connects to the depiction of Dr. Quantum and his questioning of the brain's ability to fully comprehend the world. The brain, being our (often) rational and logical thought-processor, is very complex. In fact, even neuropsychologists are uncertain of how many of the brains functions work. Therefore, even if our brain was somehow a separate entity from the universe, we would still not be able to fully understand the world. This is because we do not even fully understand the very brain we would use to try and understand the universe with.
One element that links both the Quantum and Classical worlds is the Orange Peel that represents the sun in the Classical world. After using epoxy to stick the orange peel onto the poster, I knew that it would only be a matter of time until it would shrivel up and no longer look round like the sun. This was meant to represent the effects Quantum physics has on Newtonian/Classical physics. It is slowly breaking down the objective and systemized structure classic physics gave the universe. For instance, Einstein and his special theory of relativity showed that both space and time are relative which broke down the Newtonian view that both time and space were absolute and did not interact.
In terms of the physical composition of the piece, the uncertainty and subjectivity of Quantum physics was represented in the borders of the splash page that were wavy and uneven. In contrast, the Newtonian section of the splash page was drawn in a cubic and systematic way to represent the systematized and divine look Newton and other classical physicists had. It was bordered by a golden strip of material that was meant to represent this more systematized view that matched the common sense of the time.
Despite the fact that this piece can be looked at as a sort of comparison between the Classical and Quantum views of the world, it also hints at the shift science is currently undergoing with the emergence of Quantum theory. It is showing how many of the fundamental Classical notions of how the universe works do not hold. It's more ideal, ordered, and objective look at the natural world is being attacked and undermined by the Photoelectric Effect, theories of special and general relativity, and Schrodinger's Cat of Quantum theory. Hence the title of the art: Certainty or Uncertainty? That is the Question.



