w̼a̼v̼e̼ f̼i̼e̼l̼d̼ m̼e̼a̼s̼u̼r̼e̼r̼
In the theory of quantum entanglement there is an instantaneous correlation between matter like photons and other particles separated by vast distances. Within the physicist’s inspection of this phenomenon, the moment they measure any entangled attributes, the entanglement ends, and there is an instantaneous change in the whole system. This is known as the measurement problem, where the measurer is mostly described as human.
However, it is the relationship between sets of physical apparatuses — the whole material context of the observation — that needs to be understood. The measuring process is also made up of non-human actants, for example a piece of scientific apparatus, which affect the outcome. It is not just humans that make the world intelligible.
Our theories of knowledge, right down to the building blocks of matter, centralise human perception. Wave-field Measurer represents the role of the non-human in our knowledge-making practices. This wave-field is inspected and triggered by a robotic arm, standing for an intelligent non-human measurer. The kinetic wave field pulsates and reflects around the room.
The entanglement experiments have implications for how humans should think about their relationship to the material world. What difference would it make in our consideration of the energy policy were the non-human, for example electricity, to be seen not as a resource, commodity or ‘object’ but as a ‘subject’?
Recycled materials, custom electronics. External video here