In order to extend the purpose of my short film, I decided to produce another edit, still documenting my process, but including the voices of astrophysicists. I was inspired by Rohini Devasher’s exhibit ‘Borrowed Light’ at the ‘One Hundred Thousand Suns’ (2024,) a documentary on the Kodaikanal Observatory in India, which collects observational data from the sun. The film is narrated by astronomers who work at the Observatory and documents their experience. As part of Devasher’s exhibition, I also listened to an audio vignette which consisted of several astronomers and their experiences observing the night sky, demonstrating their lasting, deep connection with the cosmos.
I wanted my own material transformations as the Alchemist-as-Observer within the film to come across as well as astronomers’ own interpretations, observations and fascination with the cosmos. Mixing personal experience of the subject and their abundant knowledge, focusing on the transformation within the cosmos. Both audio contributions come from astrophysicists from the Astrophysics Research Institute: PhD researcher Cairns Turnbull and Head of Outreach Professor Andy Newsam.
Though I used direct questions, I wanted the outcome to be more conversational, where tangents can occur and conversations can meander. I wanted the voice of the astronomer to come through and their own personal experience of observation, some of which will contribute to my short film.
Interview with Professor Andy Newsam
Where do copper/complex elements originate from?
How do the laws of thermodynamics directly apply to the Universe?
Would you describe stellar events as more destructive or transformative?
Do you have a particular moment where you knew astronomy was the field you wanted to go into?
Is there a particular astronomical event/ celestial object that particularly interests you?
So there’s an eclipse coming up, have you witnessed an eclipse before and are there any observational practices you recommend?
Do you believe the Universe has an endpoint? What is your theory?
Transcript of Professor Andy Newsam Interview: https://ljmu-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/acioline_ljmu_ac_uk/IQANQ1s5t_rORIcUB026o4gxAduWVhxl9JbL4Oqan8U-oeU?e=XvlqhW
Interview with PhD Researcher Cairns Turnbull
Could you briefly explain what a Gamma Ray Burst is?
How do astronomers observe GRB’s?
What is left behind after a GRB jet?
How were GRBs discovered?
What draws to the field of GRB’s and Astronomy in general?
We had a previous conversation on spacetime holding gravitational memory,
could you please expand on this?
Do you believe information can escape a black hole?
Where does that information in a black hole go, is it destroyed?
How does dark matter differ from baryonic matter?
What is the leading scientific theory on how the Universe will end?
In the past I have produced work on the so called ‘Big Freeze’ and playing on the
idea of a graveyard of black dwarves, black holes and dark matter, would you
say this vision of Universe in its final state is accurate?
Has the earth ever been in the path of a GRB?
What is a Pulsar, and how does it differ from a GRB?
Transcript of Cairns Turnbull Interview: Cairns Turnbull Interview.pdf
Borrowed Light (2025) [Exhibition]. Mudec – Museo delle Culture, Milan. 19 September- 2 November (2025)