Curiosity has been my driving force, leading me to ask questions about everything around me. This has led to my constant exploration and experimentation of ideas based on scientific and philosophical enquiry. Combining scientific facts and theories with my wild imagination has been fruitful in creating artwork that questions our known reality and seeks to learn more about the unknown. My educational background in physics and psychology, along with my love for nature, cultural and philosophical traditions serve as my muse. My working method also varies from highly planned beginnings to random mark making and unexpected path changers along the way. This combination of both planned and free flow approach leads to new possibilities and new directions, thus keeping me constantly excited about my work. Making art is a thought provoking, contemplative and meditative process for me.

Abstract concepts in physics, especially in relativity and quantum mechanics, have fascinated me since high school and college. I would indulge in thought experiments and daydream about various scenarios at all scales, sometimes imagining myself to be particles journeying at enormous speeds through the cosmos or an observer witnessing the multiverses where different sets of physics rules operate. The Singularities & Infinities series resulted from one of these fantastical journeys of my mind as I was imagining myself moving through a black hole towards an infinitely dense singularity where all known physics breaks down. I wanted to explore the concepts relating to the cosmos that defy common sense, yet the universe operates because of them.

In this exhibition, I have included drawings and paintings that were inspired by quantum mechanics. The drawings were made using pens of various nib sizes, thin brushes and colored ink on printmaking paper in order to achieve the intricate details. The white lines in the artwork are the white of the paper as I work in the negative spaces to create a sense of depth and also to bring out the idea of interconnectedness. The circular format is reminiscent of the eyepieces of microscopes and telescopes seeking to perceive the invisible. The Journeys- Scales piece is a collage of layers of fabric, glass beads and white thread exploring the  ideas of order, chaos and randomness along with the fractal nature of the cosmos at different scales. The formation of atoms in the early stages of the universe leading to bubbles of matter is addressed in the Cosmic Vibrations- Blue Shift painting in which time is represented by the dark blue spiral, drawn freehand using a brush. The two paintings from the Graphs series, Early Universe and The Ultraviolet Catastrophe touch upon the history, discovery and significance of quantum mechanics.

— Shanthi Chandrasekar

Shanthi Chandrasekar has received support to create some of the artwork in this exhibition in part by funding from the Montgomery County government and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Entangled Beauty is a season-long exploration of quantum science and its intersections with philosophy, art, and the human spirit. Presented in recognition of the United Nations’ International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the program invites audiences to engage with leading scientists, thinkers, and artists through talks, performances, and screenings that illuminate the wonder and complexity of the quantum world. Set in Chicago at Athenaeum Center, the series reflects on how groundbreaking discoveries reveal new dimensions of beauty, meaning, and interconnectedness in our universe.