BIG BANG, Imagining the Universe

“We create the Universe as much as it creates us.”

— Stephen Hawking & Thomas Hertog

How did the Universe begin? Will it ever end? The cosmos and Man’s place in it have fascinated humans for thousands of years. These mind-bending cosmic questions keep scientists awake at night, but also fuel the imagination and fantasy of artists. 

This unique book combines the insights of scientists and visual artists, offering a magnificent overview of the visualisation of the Universe from the Neolithic to the present. In addition, dozens of stunning modern and contemporary artworks engage in a dialogue with the Big Bang theory in its various forms. Professor Georges Lemaître formulated his revolutionary theory about the origin of the Universe in 1931 at the University of Leuven. In 2021, our ideas about this Big Bang and the cosmos as a whole are still evolving. Our astonishment and desire to visualise what we are unable to comprehend fully, however, remain unchanged.

Big Bang – Imagining the Universe is published on the occasion of two exhibitions organised in the context of 'BANG! Big Bang City Festival' in Leuven, from 15 October 2021 until 30 January 2022. 

With enlightening contributions from Barbara Baert, Abdelkader Benali, Thomas Hertog, Hannah Redler Hawes, Jan Van der Stock, Annelies Vogels, and others.