Opening of Exhibition: The History of Uncertainty (Die Geschichte der Verunsicherung) by artist in residence Philip Kanwischer

The History of Uncertainty (Die Geschichte der Verunsicherung)
Exhibition by Philip Kanwischer, 16.6.–21.7.2023

Opening reception: Thursday, June 15, 2023, 19:00 CET
Physikalisches Institut, Im Neuenheimer Feld 226, 69120 Heidelberg

Welcome and introductions by:
Dr. Lisa Ringena, Science Communication, IsoQuant
Tina Kuka, Coordination, IsoQuant
Nicolas Reinhart. Artistic Director, Kalamari Klub
Prof. Dr. Markus K. Oberthaler. Steering Board Member, IsoQuant

The artist is present.

During his collaboration with researchers from the Collaborative Research Centre IsoQuant, Philip
Kanwischer explored the fundamental role of probability in quantum physics. In his exhibition “The
History of Uncertainty (Die Geschichte der Verunsicherung)”, he now shows the resulting works in a
section of the Physikalisches Institut. Kanwischer, whose works are often rooted in an associative
play of language, connects the concept of probability to the sea. Starting from there, he uses
photographs, objects and cinematic collages to navigate narratively through sunken Roman merchant
ships, the history of insurance, and current supply chain issues, all the while maintaining the
connection to quantum physics.

The exhibition “The History of Uncertainty (Die Geschichte der Verunsicherung)” is curated by
Nicolas Reinhart and produced as part of a SciArt collaboration between the Collaborative Research
Centre IsoQuant at the University of Heidelberg and the international artist collective Kalamari
Klub. The collaboration was established in 2021 and aims to initiate curiosity-driven engagement
between artists, scientists and other members of the society, promoting a spirit of co-learning and
equality while helping to communicate knowledge through cross-disciplinary collaboration and
artistic research.

The artist Philip Kanwischer was invited as SciArt artist-in-residence and spent six months in
Heidelberg between October 2021 and March 2022. Kanwischer, born 1991 in Bamberg, Germany, studied
Photography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Leipzig, Germany and at the Accademia di Belle Arti in
Napoli, Italy. In his work, he combines images and text into narrative installations, studying the
perception of catastrophic events and the tense relation between human and nature. His works have
been included in numerous solo and group shows. He lives and works in Leipzig, Germany.