Emilija Povilanskaitė transforms stellar phenomena into art with “Helium Burning”
Artist Emilija Povilanskaitė’s “Helium Burning” brings this stellar phenomenon down to Earth, allowing viewers to experience a glimpse of the Sun’s inner workings through a unique, immersive sculpture that balances aesthetics with complex scientific principles. The work represents a captivating fusion of art and science, manifesting the stellar process of helium fusion—a process occurring within the cores of aging stars as they reach their final evolutionary stages.
In this cosmic process, helium atoms undergo fusion under extreme pressure and temperature, resulting in the formation of heavier elements such as carbon and oxygen. This celestial reaction, which fuels the radiance and energy of stars like the Sun, operates similarly to a thermonuclear reactor, with the Sun’s immense gravitational pull containing the fiery tumult of fusion within its boundaries.
Crafted from a combination of glass, helium, krypton, metal, and electrodes, Povilanskaitė’s artwork embodies the essence of this cosmic process. Glass forms the transparent outer shell, embodying the fragile yet resilient nature of a star’s outer layers. Within this shell, helium and krypton gases are sealed, representing the lighter elements involved in fusion.
Electrodes embedded in the metal framework within the sculpture activate these gases, resulting in a pulsating, otherworldly glow that mimics the light and energy released during helium fusion in stellar cores. This dynamic interplay of materials creates a mesmerizing simulation of the nuclear furnace within stars, offering viewers a sensory experience that mirrors the luminosity and volatility of stellar interiors.
Emilija Povilanskaitė, a visual artist and film director, merges storytelling with a deep exploration of technology, science, and sensory experiences. Her work bridges contemporary artistic practice with scientific research, scent creation, and coding, inviting audiences into immersive visual and olfactory installations that explore humanity’s complex relationship with technology and the natural world.
Having studied at the Royal Academy of Arts The Hague, she continues to create works that address the human quest for connection in an era dominated by the digital image. Povilanskaitė’s practice draws inspiration from mythology, folklore, and unexplained phenomena, inviting viewers to reconnect with their senses and reconsider their place within the vastness of both the real and imagined worlds.
In a time when visual culture and screen-mediated experiences often distance people from tangible, sensory reality, Emilija Povilanskaitė’s installations offer a multi-sensorial space for reconnection. “Helium Burning” epitomizes this approach, using physical elements to convey the transformative processes of the cosmos, making visible the invisible and suggesting an almost mythical quality within scientific phenomena.
Through this piece, Povilanskaitė extends an invitation to reflect on the human experience, to imagine, and to perceive beyond the superficial, opening pathways to a deeper understanding of both ourselves and the universe. Her work reminds us of our intrinsic connection to the cosmos, as well as our power to envision and understand our world through both the lens of scientific inquiry and the boundless realm of imagination.
