Artist Oksana Kondratyeva Creates Stained-Glass Tribute to Higgs Boson

London-based artist Oksana Kondratyeva has unveiled a new stained-glass artwork titled Discovery, inspired by the detection of the Higgs boson at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012. Currently exhibited at the Romont Glass Museum in Switzerland, this piece reflects Kondratyeva’s unique blend of art and science.

Originally from Ukraine, Kondratyeva holds a PhD in the theory of architecture and has engaged in an artist residency at the museum. Her recent visit to the LHC in 2023 profoundly influenced her work. She describes CERN as “more than a laboratory [but] a gateway to the unknown.”

Art Meets Physics

In an interview with Physics World, Kondratyeva expressed her awe at standing on the frontier of human knowledge, where particles collide at “unimaginable energies,” leading to the revelation of new forms of matter. The focal point of Discovery is a precisely structured circle, symbolizing the collision of two high-energy protons.

The surrounding lead lines trace the trajectories of particle decays as they navigate through a magnetic field. Right-curved lines depict positively charged particles, while left-curved lines represent negatively charged ones. Straight lines illustrate neutral particles that remain unaffected by the magnetic field. This geometric composition reflects the hidden symmetries of physical laws, patterns that emerge through the study of particle interactions.

Capturing the Invisible

Kondratyeva emphasizes that the use of mouth-blown flashed glass adds depth to the artwork. The colours transition from hot and luminous at the centre to cooler, subdued tones at the edges. “Through glass, light and colour, I sought to express the invisible forces and delicate symmetries that define our universe,” she explained. This concept merges scientific ideas with artistic expression, continuing the long-standing tradition of stained glass as a medium for storytelling.

The artist’s previous collaboration with Rigetti Computing in 2022 resulted in another innovative piece, Per scientiam ad astra (through science to the stars). This artwork was showcased at the 2024 British Glass Biennale at the Ruskin Glass Centre in Stourbridge, UK.

Kondratyeva’s work exemplifies how art can serve as a bridge between complex scientific concepts and human understanding, inviting viewers to contemplate the intricate relationship between the universe and artistic expression.