X-Carbon
Have you ever felt the pull of a distant, collapsing star, and the civilisations it might endanger?
In the X-Carbon Universe, a rebellion is unfolding within a white dwarf. Excess matter from a neighbouring star is destabilising this failed supernova which endangers a civilization nearby. As Subhramanyan Chandrashekhar, visitors embarked on a mission to venture into the heart of X-Carbon, capture this rebellious matter, and save lives on another planet. Visitors explored this thrilling adventure created by artist and astronomer Jan Świerkowski, where the fate of a civilisation rested in your hands.
Supported by Instytut B61 and the Polish Institute New Delhi.
Medium: Arcade Machine
Year: Digital Game
Team
Jan Świerkowski
Astronomer and Artist
Jan Świerkowski is an artist, scientist, and curator, acclaimed as the Science Popularizer of the Year in Poland 2018. He is the visionary founder of the international art & science ensemble, Instytut B61. Serving as the curator and scriptwriter of Cosmic Underground, a groundbreaking art & science collaborative cargo train journey from Tallinn to Lisbon, funded by the European Commission, Swierkowski has demonstrated a unique fusion of disciplines. Notably, he is the producer of the Portal Diaries, an innovative art & science adventure series designed for Instagram, commissioned by the European Commission. Holding an MA in Astrophysics from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun (2010) and a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies titled "Translating the Invisible: Conceptual Blending in Art and Science" from the Catholic University of Portugal and the University of Copenhagen (2021), Swierkowski's expertise spans the intersection of art and science.
Tomasz Wlaźlak
Artist
Tomasz Wlaźlak is a Doctor of Fine Arts and a multimedia artist. He often draws inspiration from 8-bit video game aesthetics in his work. He creates in the sacrum digitalum movement, merging themes from the realms of religion and pop culture. In 2016, he defended his doctoral thesis titled Games as Inspiration in Artistic Creation, and he remains a firm believer in the potential union of video games and contemporary art. His works have been showcased in numerous exhibitions and festivals both in Poland and abroad, including Argentina (Game On! festival), Canada (Vector Festival), the USA (winner of the Best at Digital Graffiti festival), Turkey, Greece, Spain, Austria, and Ukraine. Creator of animated music videos for bands such as Gov’t Mule, Krojc, and Drób.
Co-creator of the informal group NIEMIEJSCE and the Szatnia Gallery. Head of the departmental FORUM gallery. Professor at the B61 Institute, where he leads the interactive creations studio. Founder of the game studio WERY GOOD GAMES.
