Qualitas Occultae is an interactive light-based installation that explores the invisible forces shaping our world, inspired by Newton’s concept of gravity and a childhood fascination with remote activation. The work features a small “flip-flap” figure under a glass dome, powered by a photovoltaic element. When the space is empty, the figure remains still. However, a motion sensor triggers a strong directional light as visitors enter, illuminating the dome and causing the figure to move, seemingly animated by an unseen force.
This installation reflects on the mystery of action at a distance, a concept central to Newton’s understanding of nature but rejected by Leibniz, who dismissed it as an occult property. The piece also evokes the wonder of childhood discovery, like the marvel of solar panels and remote controls—technologies that enable objects to move without direct contact.
By allowing viewers to witness a simple yet magical transformation, Action at a Distance seeks to reignite awe at the hidden forces governing our reality, much like Newton’s contemporaries once questioned how gravity could act across empty space. In an age where technology has made the extraordinary routine, this work encourages us to pause and rediscover the mysteries that quietly shape our world. Balancing scientific explanation with a sense of magic in natural phenomena, the installation invites us to reconnect with the marvel of the unseen.