How many photons does it take for us to truly see the light? Our retina can detect a mere single photon, yet our brain requires ten to recognize and process the signal. This intriguing question forms the core of the exhibition, inviting visitors to delve into a more philosophical inquiry about the perception of reality.

Titled "How many photons do we need to see the light?" the exhibition not only explores the scientific intricacies of vision but also raises broader questions about understanding meanings and constructing narratives from fragments of information.

The photo series, "The Notes on Spacetime," created by Aleksandra Cieślewicz in her studio, features objects on tables, floors, and the play of light from screens. These simple still lifes represent processes, progress, and the passage of time. Charcoal pieces, single nails, fragments of broken mirrors, and a glass ball revealing colors of a white screen are among the subjects captured. Some photographs are arranged in diptychs, revealing connected moments and showcasing subtle changes, providing insights into the progression of situations. As the series title suggests, these are notes on space and time, reflections on the perception of the closest reality happening at our desks.

In addition to the photographs, the exhibition presents two bodies of work by Asa Lee, an artist with a strong interest in scientific research. At the entrance, an analogue television and a text form a focal point. Since Germany switched to digital signals in 2008, the analogue set only captures background signals, the noise that surrounds and fills the space. The accompanying text provides context: 1% of the static reveals the energy generated in the early stages of the universe's formation. Amidst the static, visitors can directly experience the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation - the evidence for the Big Bang theory - while contemplating the relevance of this information and questioning what we perceive as noise.

As part of Lee's project, "Supernova SN 1937," the exhibition explores the extensive process of uncovering the backstory of a print found at a flea market. The print, depicting a supernova, along with empty black photographs and handwritten text, serves as a captivating mystery. Lee spent several years researching the history of the print, delving into the biographies of scientists and learning about Supernova SN 1937. All the research is showcased through cyanotypes, prints created by sunlight, our closest star. Eventually, Lee discovers that the object was not a scientific document but an artwork by Berlin artist Katharina Meldner. A letter to Meldner explains the research and art production process and raises questions about the perception of time, reality, and the photographic medium.
This exhibition takes us on a mesmerising journey through time, reflecting on the beginning of the universe and the dying star documented in the 1930s and 1940s, reprinted by Meldner in 1977 and again by Lee in 2022. Interspersed with contemporary photographs and notes from today, the exhibition presents a kaleidoscope of mixed events from different eras, giving the impression that time in the exhibition is not linear, but rather a complex game that nevertheless forms a unified picture. This fragmented perception of time is perhaps the ultimate one we can perceive due to the nature of our mind, which inevitably interweaves a variety of memories and thoughts. Such a perception has a profound effect on our understanding of reality.