Victoria Miro is delighted to present Eye of the Needle (Time Pebble (E30ALC13)), a major new work by Conrad Shawcross on view as part of Frieze Sculpture.
Eye of the Needle continues the artist’s evolution of his Time Pebble series, which resonates with theories around the expansion of the universe, as well as a multitude of other poetic possibilities. As the viewer moves around the sculpture, they will always see light emanating from its centre, alongside the optical patterns formed by each unique panel’s myriad perforations. Through its perforated exterior, the sculpture generates an interplay of material, light and shadow, encouraging viewers to reflect on the measurement of time and the celestial history of the universe.
The work is part of a new series that will debut in Shadows of the Mechanism, the artist’s upcoming solo exhibition at Victoria Miro opening this November.
‘I have long been fascinated and beguiled by time, and am always excited by the way the relentless march of contemporary science is constantly constructing and eroding our realities. With this new series I have strived to find a way to geometrically envision notions of the very early universe’
– Conrad Shawcross
-
Conrad Shawcross, Eye of the Needle (Time Pebble (E30ALC13)), 2026 -
-
In this Frieze film, the artist discusses the scope of Eye of the Needle and his new Time Pebble series.
-
‘I’ve become more interested in what real time is on a quantum or even a cosmic level, and trying to understand the depth of time, which is so beyond our human comprehension.’
- Conrad Shawcross
-
Conrad Shawcross: Shadows of the Mechanism
At Victoria Miro from 26 November
→ See more -
About Time Pebble
Inspired by maps and diagrams in cosmology and physics, the Time Pebble series explores the paradox of trying to conceive of the Universe from beyond itself. Developed over many years, the works are radiant forms that appear to emit and refract light from any viewpoint. The idea began with Shawcross’ artistic pilgrimage in 2005 to the Holmdel ‘Big Ear’ in New Jersey. This iconic radio telescope inadvertently detected cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) from the Big Bang, giving vital evidence to this theory by allowing for the production of ovoid maps of the residual heat left over from this event.
‘…such little data exists from this pivotal moment in time that science and our imaginations are forced to dream together about how and why this growing singularity came into existence and became the generative point of the universe.’
– Conrad Shawcross
Taking these maps as his inspiration, Shawcross has attempted to represent the birth of the universe in sculptural form, each work perforated by a constellation of holes and formed of thousands of interlocking plates. His recent residency at the University of Nottingham, where he observed ground-breaking investigations into the early universe and black hole mergers, further informed the works’ form and rationale. They aim to evoke the intense, fleeting moment of this rapid expansion where, theoretically, the universe expanded from an infinitesimal singularity to incomprehensible vastness.
Speaking about these ideas, Shawcross says: ‘such little data exists from this pivotal moment in time that science and our imaginations are forced to dream together about how and why this growing singularity came into existence and became the generative point of the universe. It is thought that, within this initial expansion, almost all the galaxies and stars that exist today were born.’
-
Related
-
First look – Frieze Sculpture, featuring Conrad Shawcross
September 18, 2026Curated for a fourth year by Fatoş Üstek, Frieze Sculpture’s 14th edition includes 11 leading international artists whose work is sited throughout The Regent's Park's historic English Gardens. Shawcross' Eye... -
Frieze features Conrad Shawcross ahead of his inclusion in Frieze Sculpture
September 8, 2026This elliptical monolith reinterprets the traditional clock as a cosmic occurrence. Through its perforated exterior, the sculpture generates an interplay of material, light and shadow, encouraging viewers to reflect on... -
Conrad Shawcross unveils Glance of the Sun (Time Pebble C40AS2) in Cambridge
August 3, 2026This monumental new artwork commissioned by Breakthrough Properties stands at the entrance to the Vitrum by Breakthrough building in St John's new Innovation Park in Cambridge. -
Frieze London
14 – 18 October 2026A focus of our presentation (Booth D12) features recent paintings and a sculpture by Kudzanai-Violet Hwami in a special installation conceived by the artist. -
Frieze Masters – Alice Neel
14 – 18 October 2026At Frieze Masters (Booth D09), the gallery will co-present with David Zwirner a selection of paintings by Alice Neel as part of the fair's curatorial initiative Queering Modernism: Visual Languages...
-
-
See major works by Conrad Shawcross permanently on view across London
-
Conrad Shawcross
→ Visit Artist Page
