Paterson, Katie
Katie Paterson’s practice involves extensive periods of meticulous research and development. She works in a range of mediums including photography, installation, sculpture and sound, and her projects explore big numbers, natural phenomena and the intersection between art and science. She is interested in what happens on planet Earth and beyond.
Paterson’s commission Totality is a large mirror ball featuring nearly every solar eclipse documented by humankind. Thousands of images of eclipses, painstakingly sourced and collected by the artist and her studio, form a patterned sequence across the surface of the mirror ball. The jewel-like ball slowly turns, projecting images of eclipses around the room, becoming a small rotating planet.
The images depicted on the mirror ball include the oldest found drawing of a solar eclipse from 1778, early 20th century photographs, as well as contemporary images from the most technologically advanced telescopes. Totality creates an immersive environment, shrouding the walls, floor and viewer in tiny illuminated solar eclipses.
- Artwork Details: diameter: 82cm
- Edition: 1 of 3 + 2 AP
- Material description: Mixed media
- Credit line: © the artist.
- Theme:
- Medium: Installation
- Accession number: ACC20/2015