Exploring Twin Quasar: On Art, Science, and Virtual Worlds

On May 22, 2025, artist Ashley Zelinskie joined Christiane Paul, the Whitney’s Curator of Digital Art, and Curatorial Assistant David Lisbon for a conversation in the virtual world of Zelinskie’s work "Twin Quasar." Accessible in the Whitney Museum Virtual Landscape on the MONA platform, "Twin Quasar" explores intersections between science and art history by turning two works from the Whitney’s collection into navigable 3D models and drawing parallels between phenomena in physics and the artist’s exploration of space and form. The conversation explores the work’s conceptual and technical creation process and the potential of using virtual worlds as gallery spaces. Other topics include the artistic practice of “sci-art” and the challenges of balancing art historical context and scientific research. Explore "Twin Quasar" on the MONA platform: https://spaces.monaverse.com/spaces/twin-quasars