Early Universes is a collaboration between artist Alistair McClymont and the Gravity Laboratory at the University of Nottingham.

This series of images is drawn directly from scans of the surface of water in an experiment exploring the early universe. Each scan captures a moment just seconds apart, as the water evolves from steady waves into resonant patterns — mirroring our universe’s own transition from cold emptiness to structure.

Early Universes grew out of art-science conversations between Alistair McClymont and Maciej Jarema from the Gravity Laboratory.

Further support from the Gravity Laboratory was provided by Dr. Vitor Barroso Silveira, Dr. Lina Jansson, Dr. Ulrike Kuchner, Dr. Patrik Švančara and Professor Silke Weinfurtner.