ADAM NORTON

Big Science

11 June – 28 July 2008

Gallery 9, Sydney

The term Big Science is usually attributed to an article by Alvin M. Weinberg, the director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, (producer of The United States Military grade Uranium). This was in response to US president, Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1961 farewell address, in which the departing U.S. president warned against the dangers of what he called the 'military-industrial complex' and the potential domination of the Federal government by large corporations and military industrialists.

It basically alludes to scientific projects that require the resources of an entire modern nation to accomplish national strategic goals. US nuclear missile technology and the Apollo Space program being two interlinked projects. The term 'two edged sword' is tailor made to describe the scientific advances generated by these huge technological feats.

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Meteorite
2008
acrylic on canvas
120 × 150 cm

Uranium
2008
synthetic polymer paint on board
38 × 49 cm (framed)

Generic Escape Capsule
2005
found wardrobe, mixed media
183 × 153 × 53 cm

Camouflage Suit Experiment
2006-2007
mixed media
Dimensions variable

Pipe Barrier
2008
synthetic polymer on board
30 × 160 cm

Bomb Test 1
2008
synthetic polymer paint on board
80 × 80 cm

Bomb Test 2
2008
synthetic polymer paint on board
80 × 80 cm

Big Bomb Test
2008
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
122 × 122 cm

River Road
2008
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
91 × 120 cm

Reverse Shoes
2005
adapted shoes, box, chair, demonstration photograph
Dimensions variable

Riceboro Camouflage Map
2008
found map and coloured photocopy
76 × 61 cm

Yemassee Camouflage Map
2008
found map and coloured photocopy
76 × 61 cm

Green Pond Camouflage Map
2008
found map and coloured photocopy
76 × 61 cm

Brunswick West Camouflage Map
2008
found map and coloured photocopy
76 × 61 cm

Washington Land Use Camouflage Map
2008

72 × 77 cm

Washington Land Change Camouflage Map
2008
found map and coloured photocopy
72 × 77 cm

Ash Drawing
2005
ash from A4 paper on A4 paper, varnish
29 × 25 cm (framed)

Aluminium Drawing
2005
aluminium fillings on paper, varnish
29 × 25 cm (framed)

Recipefor a Drawing
2005
texta and type on paper
29 × 25 cm

UFO's - Keys To The New Age
2008
synthetic polymer paint on board
23 × 15 cm

An Introduction To Nuclear Science
2008
synthetic polymer paint on linen
25 × 20 cm

Yuri Geller's Aliens
2008
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
85 × 108 cm

Yuri's Aliens
2008
synthetic poylmer paint on aluminium
36 × 27 cm

Bomb Test 1 & Bomb Test 2 - install

Camouflage Map series - install

Generic Escape Capsule & G.E.C. demonstration photos - install

Big Bomb Test, River Road & Terraforming - install

Camouflage Suit Experiment - install

Camouflage Suit Experiment - install

Pipe Barrier - install

Reverse Shoes & Meteorite - install

conceptual drawing experiments - install