Oh My God
2018
variable dimensions
Manuel Abendroth, Jérôme Decock, Els Vermang

abstract
The artwork captures cosmic rays and transforms these messengers of another time way before our existence into light, sound and text. In this way the artwork connects us to the scale of space and time by making the invisible visible.
dimensions
OMG was realized with the financial support of the Commission des Arts Numériques de la Communauté Française de Belgique.
material
Tripots, Geiger Mueller tubes, Tl tubes, speakers, electronics
project text
<h2 class="font_2">The artwork captures cosmic rays and transforms them into light, sound and text. Cosmic rays are high-energy particles that circulate in the interstellar space and pass through our atmosphere, rocks and buildings, and penetrate deep into our planetary soils and subsoils. Charged with energy, they are at the base of 14% of radioactive radiation on earth. Their energy level depends on their origin: those with least energy come from the activity of the Sun, for those of lower energy, those with average energy come from supernovas and those with ultra-high energy are pulsar. ohMyGod was the name given to the cosmic ray with the highest energy recorded so far. The recent discovery of cosmic rays gives us new indications of the origin and expansion of the universe. As light travels faster than matter, these rays arrive on Earth up to 10 million years later than the extinction of the star itself. Therefore we are measuring something the origin of which no longer exists; cosmic rays are messengers of another time way before our existence. In the same way, the artwork renders the invisible visible, and connects us to the magnitude of space and time.</h2>
history
2019 __ D'un soleil a l'autre , group show, U-boot Base, Bordeaux
2021 __ Cosmos District, group show, Ososphere at Cathedrale, Strasbourg
![Oh My God by LAb[au], with illuminated tubes mounted on tall tripods and cables across the floor in a dark concrete interior.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fb1d51_03ff716ad9b3425e801b6b8f67e1e85b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_484,h_399,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/fb1d51_03ff716ad9b3425e801b6b8f67e1e85b~mv2.jpg)
![Oh My God by LAb[au], with scattered white light tubes glowing at different heights in a dark exhibition space.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fb1d51_6f6444abdd044010a5c45fd11a18da9f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_484,h_399,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/fb1d51_6f6444abdd044010a5c45fd11a18da9f~mv2.jpg)
![Oh My God by LAb[au] in the studio, with tall tubes mounted on tripods and cables spread across a red floor.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fb1d51_f27d38b706544115829e9bc909d9e324~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_484,h_399,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/fb1d51_f27d38b706544115829e9bc909d9e324~mv2.jpg)
![Detail of Oh My God by LAb[au], showing a tube mounted on a metal tripod with connected cables in the studio.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fb1d51_8f1c93a3a3f84a508078947c4b8d0027~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_484,h_399,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/fb1d51_8f1c93a3a3f84a508078947c4b8d0027~mv2.jpg)
![A single unit of Oh My God by LAb[au], with a tall tube on a metal tripod against a white studio wall.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fb1d51_a96c54cec4874e89a35969c76917339b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_484,h_399,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/fb1d51_a96c54cec4874e89a35969c76917339b~mv2.jpg)