The Universe in a Grain of Sand

Mark Levinson United States 2024 73 min.

What can science learn from art, and art from science? Art and science are not each other's opposites, but rather allies in our attempt to make sense of the world. Our perception (and understanding) of the world is determined by our ability to observe and represent it. Award-winning filmmaker and physicist Mark Levinson created a visually rich meditation on how science and art try to comprehend the natural world and at times reinforce each other in unexpected ways.

Before becoming a filmmaker, Mark Levinson was an enthusiastic particle physicist. In 2013, he combined both passions in the award-winning documentary Particle Fever, which also featured at DOCVILLE in 2014. In this new, exceptionally creative documentary, he zooms in on the relationship between art and science, showing - with great visual flair and in exquisite detail - how one sustains and enhances the other. He juxtaposes memorable scientific revolutions with the work of more than 40 artists - from Van Gogh and Cézanne to contemporary artists working at the particular intersection of science and art. For make no mistake, it is not a one-way transaction: not only does science offer art new possibilities, but also the other way around. A fascinating tribute to the power of the human imagination.

Tarot card

Following the pseudoscience theme, a tarot card was made of (almost) every film. The complete package of tarot cards is also the catalogue.

Click on the DOCVILLE poster to discover the tarot card.

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