Glastonbury 2025. Science Futures Exhibition

The Electromagnetic Choreography of Ferrofluids

Have you ever disliked the look of a song?

This may not be a topic you have ever had to actively think about, however, this is a common occurrence for a Chromesthete. Imagine stepping into a space where sound isn't just something you hear-its something you see, something that moves and transforms betore your eyes.

Chromesthesia, is a sound-to-colour neurological phenomenon that enables a person to visualise colours through involuntary auditory stimuli sensory triggers created by musical notes, spoken words, environmental sounds, or even specific voices.

This project is a co-collaboration between Victoria Iddon, an artist and MA Art in Science student; Louie Burns who has chromesthesia where sounds trigger the perception of colour, and Phil Iddon, a telecommunication expert and musician.

At the heart of this project is a simple but mind-bending question: How can we, as artists. create work about a condition we do not experience ourselves, such as chromesthesia, and is co-collaborating with those who do the most authentic way to translate its manifestation?

This work explores the dynamic behaviour of ferrofluids under the influence of sound and electromagnetism, transforming scientific principles into an immersive visual experience.

Ferrofluids a liquid infused with nanoscale magnetic particles, responds dynamically to electromagnetic fields, forming intricate, ever-changing patterns and structures.

By controlling these magnetic fields, the ferrofluid is set into motion, creating fluid, organic movements that appear almost alive, and in synchronisation with sound the patterns transform into organic fractal patterns. This motion reaction will later be projected live onto a large-scale surface, immersing viewers in the mesmerising interplay of physics, motion. and light.

The work blurs the boundaries between science and art, using ferrofluids as a medium to visualise the invisible forces of magnetism. It invites audiences to engage with the unseen dynamics that shape our world, offering a hypnotic, meditative experience driven by the fundamental forces of nature.

In a world dominated by screens and digital media, our sensory experiences are often fragmented. This project seeks to reconnect audiences with the materiality of sound, showing them a new way to experience it, not just as something heard, but as something seen and felt.