Living

Scientists are still puzzling over what distinguishes living from non-living matter. Equally puzzling are the origins of life; we still do not know when, where, or how it first evolved. One of the suggestions made in What Matter Feels is that living systems exploit the basic capacity of matter to feel pleasure and displeasure, and that they organise themselves in a way that maximises their pleasure (by minimising their energy) and minimises their displeasure (by maximising their entropy). To do this they must carry out ‘work’—in the physics sense of the word—which requires a source of ‘free’ energy that is needed to move parts of their matter around during the organisation.

This marbling piece is less formally organised than many others in the series. As sometimes happens, I started out with a plan for a certain design that was derailed in execution due to the highly unpredictable nature of the marbling process. Inks and paints often interact in unexpected ways; they seem to have a life of their own and sometimes it’s best to stand back and let them just get on with it. (Original artwork: 2023, Ink and paint on paper, 60 x 60 cm.)

Posters are sold unframed. Examples of framed posters are shown here for illustration purposes at 40 x 30 cm (16 x 12 inches), 60 x 45 cm (24 x 18 inches), and 80 x 60 cm (32 x 24 inches).

Materials:

• Printed on premium archival museum-quality paper.
• The 250 gsm/ 110lb paper is perfect for fine art, designed to last for years without losing its original beauty. Our matte paper is uncoated and natural white (off-white).
• With alkaline papermaking technology, this poster is acid-free, meaning the pH of the pulp that is used to form the paper is above 7 (neutral). The paper is also buffered with an alkaline reserve, such as calcium carbonate, to neutralize acid compounds absorbed from the atmosphere or formed through natural aging. This ensures that your poster will last many years without any yellowing or discolouration.
• Our poster is free from or low in OBA (optical brightener additives). This ensures that the natural white colour of the paper remains consistent under different lighting conditions. In contrast, the colour of papers that contain optical brighteners can shift depending on the light source. Additionally, the colour of OBA-free paper remains more consistent over time so that you can enjoy the poster for years without any shifts.
• We use FSC-certified paper or equivalent certifications depending on regional availability. It’s better for the people and the planet.
• Each poster is shipped in robust packaging, ensuring it arrives safe and secure.
• Paper sizes may vary slightly by region. For the US and Canada, the measurement is in inches, while for the rest of the world, it is in centimetres.