A view of the infinity blue sculpture it's a dark image with a ray of light coming from the left hand side showing a figure standing and looking up at the large sculpture

∞ Blue (Infinity Blue)

A huge breathing ceramic sculpture, rising almost to the roof of The Core building, pays homage to one of the world’s smallest but most important organisms: cyanobacteria.

Studio Swine
∞ Blue (Infinity Blue), 2018

At almost nine metres tall and weighing twenty tonnes, ∞ Blue is an immersive installation that pays homage to cyanobacteria, one of the world’s smallest living beings. Around three billion years ago, cyanobacteria first developed oxygenic photosynthesis and changed the nature of the Earth. The sculpture is a monument to these vital microscopic beings, who, along with their descendants found in the photosynthesising cells of all green plants, continue to provide the oxygen in every breath we take.

On the surface, local clay and oxide glazes reflect Cornish mining history. The textural pattern on the ceramic tiles is generated by the reaction-diffusion algorithm found in nature from zebras to coral reefs.

∞ Blue (Infinity Blue) is one of the world’s largest ceramic sculptures. Come and see if you can catch its vapour rings!

∞ Blue (Infinity Blue) image credit: Petr Krejci Photography

An atmospheric photo which shows a figure standing looking up at the infinity blue sculpture and the vapour surrounding the floor and sculpture

A young boy being held up by his guardian catching one of the rings coming out of infinity blue

A young boy facing the vapour rings and closing his eyes with his guardian stood behind him

Girl looking at smoke ring from Infinity Blue sculpture

A close up shot of the infinity blue structure

Kids running around Infinity Blue sculpture

a very close up view of infinity blue and the details on the structure with the light shining through making it look like a night time scene

About the artists

Studio Swine (Super Wide Interdisciplinary New Explorers) is an art collective established in 2011 by Alexander Groves (UK) and Azusa Murakami (JP).

Their work straddles between the spheres of sculpture, installations and cinema, blending poetry and research into immersive experiences. The studio adopts a unique approach to each work, drawing on the distinctive resources and vernacular aesthetic of its cultural, historic and economic landscape. Professional training in art and architecture allows the studio to bridge rich and emotional narratives with rigorous technical and spatial awareness.

Studio Swine’s films have been awarded at Cannes and other film festivals around the world and their work has been widely exhibited at institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Venice Art and Architecture Biennales.

For more information visit Studio Swine's website

Supporters

∞ Blue (Infinity Blue) is part of our permanent Invisible Worlds exhibition, which reveals a world beyond your senses – too big, too small, too fast, too slow, too far away in space and time.

This exhibition is supported by the Wellcome Trust, Arts Council England, and the Wolfson Foundation.