“For the album design, we envisioned an ethereal realm of particle interaction, an invisible presence within the tangible dimension”
INTERPRETING QUANTUM RANDOMNESS
Developed at: ICFO with Maciej Lewenstein & Reiko Yamada
Field: Art – Music & Science
Key Assets:
- Conceptualization
- Cover Artwork
- Print Management
Interpreting Quantum Randomness is the result of an interdisciplinary research project by composer and sound artist Reiko Yamada and quantum physicist Maciej Lewenstein. This unusual collaboration stems from the fusion of their respective and long-standing interests, Yamada on imperfection in music composition and Lewenstein on quantum randomness, an area in which he is a world-leading expert. Together with other curious researchers, have been exploring parallels between the worlds of quantum mechanics and music at ICFO (Institute of Photonic Sciences) in Barcelona. This album is the record of ephemeral moments that were born out of this collaboration.
Recorded at Phonos, Barcelona, on October 27th, 2021, with kind support from ICFO, the project was presented live at Barcelona’s Sónar Festival, special edition AI+Music, on October 28th, 2021.
For the album design, we envisioned a realm of interaction between particles, an invisible presence in the tangible dimension. To better comprehend their behavior and dynamics, we required an optics system to help us focus, unveil, and grasp the quantum mechanics at play among them. This is why the cover artwork (a sphere composed of dots, some sharp, others not) and the fact that the vinyl is transparent holds such significance: the vinyl is the magnifying glass through which we bring clarity to the illustrated landscape on the cover when we play the music contained in it.
On the back cover, we employed the Letterpress printing technique. However, instead of using ink on the cardstock, we aimed to leave the text in high relief. This resulted in embossed typefaces that remain inkless and can only be read under the right light in correspondence with their own shadows. Once again, our goal was to represent the subtle yet constant natural forces that exist in our reality, beyond the scope of human perception.
For the album liner notes we aimed for something as ethereal as the cover artwork yet still legible, given the importance of the contained information (summary, tracklist, acknowledgments, etc). That’s why we chose to print white text on semi-transparent, heavyweight vellum paper.
INTERPRETING QUANTUM RANDOMNESS
Developed at: ICFO with Maciej Lewenstein & Reiko Yamada
Field: Art – Music & Science
Key Assets:
- Conceptualization
- Cover Artwork
- Print Management
Interpreting Quantum Randomness is the result of an interdisciplinary research project by composer and sound artist Reiko Yamada and quantum physicist Maciej Lewenstein. This unusual collaboration stems from the fusion of their respective and long-standing interests, Yamada on imperfection in music composition and Lewenstein on quantum randomness, an area in which he is a world-leading expert. Together with other curious researchers, have been exploring parallels between the worlds of quantum mechanics and music at ICFO (Institute of Photonic Sciences) in Barcelona. This album is the record of ephemeral moments that were born out of this collaboration.
Recorded at Phonos, Barcelona, on October 27th, 2021, with kind support from ICFO, the project was presented live at Barcelona’s Sónar Festival, special edition AI+Music, on October 28th, 2021.
For the album design, we envisioned a realm of interaction between particles, an invisible presence in the tangible dimension. To better comprehend their behavior and dynamics, we required an optics system to help us focus, unveil, and grasp the quantum mechanics at play among them. This is why the cover artwork (a sphere composed of dots, some sharp, others not) and the fact that the vinyl is transparent holds such significance: the vinyl is the magnifying glass through which we bring clarity to the illustrated landscape on the cover when we play the music contained in it.
On the back cover, we employed the Letterpress printing technique. However, instead of using ink on the cardstock, we aimed to leave the text in high relief. This resulted in embossed typefaces that remain inkless and can only be read under the right light in correspondence with their own shadows. Once again, our goal was to represent the subtle yet constant natural forces that exist in our reality, beyond the scope of human perception.
For the album liner notes we aimed for something as ethereal as the cover artwork yet still legible, given the importance of the contained information (summary, tracklist, acknowledgments, etc). That’s why we chose to print white text on semi-transparent, heavyweight vellum paper.
