Have you ever thought that the answer to your question lies so far beyond the scope of your field that it could be inconceivable?
For artist Hadi Madjid, refining his fantastical ideas into proven calculations is a core tenet of the scientific process. His six art pieces, which reflect this transformation, now hang in the Clark Humanities Museum’s ‘Gallery of Hope.’
This year, the museum’s overarching theme is “Stories in Science,” which focuses on tracing the evolution of women scholars and their engagement with the sciences. Both the theme and the exhibit were curated by Anne Dorothy Harley, Director of the Clark Humanities Museum and professor of music. This exhibit marks 100 years of science at Scripps. Some key elements of this initiative include archival narratives, community identity and an overall commitment to interdisciplinary STEM storytelling.
In adhering to this year’s theme, “Gallery of Hope” overtly fuses different academic areas. The men behind “Galley of Hope,” Hadi Madjid and John Meyers, work to meld art and science to highlight the ties between illustration and reason.
“The recognition of imagination in physics brings science and the humanities closer together,” Harley said.
Not many artists have a Ph.D. in mathematical economics. Madjid is unique in this way, and he takes his STEM background and weaves it into his creative processes. He is known for using his imagination to explore scientific ideas, most famously visions regarding physical science proofs. John Meyers, a physicist and professor, has collaborated with Madjid for over 40 years and also used Madjid’s ideas in his own scientific explorations.
In the mid 70s, Madjid had a vision about “surprise” events in physics, which demonstrated that measurements and time might not always align. He translated this notion into a Blue Dream, also called Braided Hole, which showcases a white ladder in a cross formation containing a white hollow circle in the center on a blue backdrop.
Decades later, Meyers used this painting as a guide to his research, noting how his artwork suggested gaps in physics long before equations could formalize them. The work demonstrates the importance of honoring the imagination even before it is quantifiable, highlighting fundamental connections between art and physics.
“As Hadi Madjid and John Myers have experienced it, acts of imagination in science require testing,” Harley said. “Some lead to valid findings, others not. The notion of testing acts of imagination can be flagged as important not only to science but to the humanities.”
This blend reinforces the gallery’s goal to platform “Stories in Science” through art — an idea that encourages interdisciplinary thinking amongst students. Students across the Claremont Colleges continue to offer new perspectives to the exhibition.
“As a physics student myself, I often think of proofs as logical,” Lina McRoberts PO ’27 said. “So to see something that is subjective and dissimilar to how we perceive proofs, I found jarring in a way, but it really piqued my curiosity.”
This curiosity carried beyond students of the sciences. Clark Humanities Museum assistant, Lucy Sandrose SC ’29, spent a lot of time with Madjid’s art and grew to understand it in a way she didn’t think was possible.
“I also am not a STEM person, so I might not have naturally gravitated toward this exhibit, but as I spent a lot of time looking at it, I learned a lot, and I would love to go back and see it again soon,” Sandrose said. “These different evaluations of the artwork are testaments to the mission: encouraging interdisciplinary thinking.”
This display implicitly communicates that creativity is oftentimes a critical component of science, and that testing acts of the imagination is an instructive part of the scientific process.
Hadi Madjid’s example inspires further work between different and sometimes unrelated fields of study.
As students stated, specifically at rigorous colleges, it can be tempting to immerse oneself in one subject. In reality, however, intense specialization and rigidness can limit intellectual curiosity. Madjid’s art is a reminder that genuine progress often comes only after we reject institutional rigidity.
Experiencing the “Gallery of Hope” is a rare and inspiring opportunity made possible by Harley’s vision and the work of students who helped install the exhibit.
“I hope visitors will get a peek into new vistas for the employment of their imagination,” Harley said.
Exploring disciplines outside of your specific interest, especially as a college student, can feel impractical. However, Harley hopes this exhibit will change this norm, inviting students to fuse their passions with others to strike inspiration.
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