The Captivating Unknown: Charting Our Relationship with the Cosmos

For centuries, civilizations have been fascinated by what lies beyond human perception, oftentimes looking to the stars and the sky for answers. This exploration of the otherworldly frequently coincides with an internal reflection of the limits within human knowledge and understanding. With distinct visual narratives, the works in this exhibition blur the lines between the physical and the immaterial, presenting unique perspectives on personal experiences and interpretations of reality. Ultimately, these works consider what South Korean artist Yeondoo Jung describes as experiencing “fantasy within the possibility of imagination.”

The artists in this exhibition seek to translate the enormity of universal wonder into a tangible reality. Through a variety of mediums and across diverse periods of time, The Captivating Unknown explores the connection between human experience and the greater cosmos.

The Captivating Unknown: Charting Our Relationship with the Cosmos is curated by Avryl Colón-Pérez ‘26, Fred W. Hicks Curatorial Fellow.

Image (top): Leidy Churchman (American, b. 1979) One Taste, 2020 Oil on linen 79 x 102.5 in. The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art, Rollins Museum of Art. Gift of Barbara '68 and Theodore '68 Alfond. 2021.1.18 © Leidy Churchman

Image (right): William Blake (English, 1757-1827) Air, 1793 Electroplated print Image: 2 5/8 in. x 2 3/4 in.  Sheet: 9 x 5 ½ in. Gift of Emma Loines, 1952.013