For millennia the circle was taken as the primary symbol of perfection; the signifier of eternal and unchanging order - with the Sky as its natural abode; where its inhabitants the Sun, the Moon and the Planets, were all believed to be eternally moving on circular orbits. Historically, it took enormous courage to conceptually Break the Circle by trusting the observations that showed all such presumed circles in the Sky to be in fact ellipses. This was specially brave given that such orbits often deviate from circularity almost imperceptibly.

This project explores the metaphor of Breaking the Circle aesthetically and conceptually, with the help of graphics, videos, sculptural pieces and texts.

About the Artist: Reza Tavakol is professor emeritus of mathematics and astronomy, and a member of the poetry group, at Queen Mary University of London. His current interests include art, philosophy and cosmology. His art practice is concerned with the aesthetic and conceptual explorations of the real, employing writing, as well various visual art forms including photography, graphics, moving image and installations.  

Tues-Sun 8-18 August 2023. Opening times: Tues 8 - Sun 13 2-7pm, Tues 15 - Fri 18 2-6pm

Private View, Tues 8 August 6-9pm