Transcript of Professor Peter F. Michelson’s talk in the reception

for Zeng’s Art Exhibition at HEPL, Stanford University, on March 12, 2008

Peter: I planned to print what I wanted to say…but right away, my technology got in the way, Microsoft got in the way. I couldn’t print. This is entirely extemporaneous.

Everyone laughs.

Peter: Karolyn and I actually have something in common. Karolyn was born in Guangzhou (Guangdong), and I actually lived in Guangzhou for about a year (in 1983). That’s how I started to appreciate Chinese art, especially contemporary Chinese art. Some artists I met in Hong Kong [I] still follow their careers. It has been quite fascinating to look at [this] fusion of Eastern and Western culture, that I think is showing here in her works, (turning to Karolyn), as well as what you talk about in your art. It speaks to people, it speaks to me. I very much appreciate that. The work you see, for me, reflects these contemporary Chinese art works that I have seen many examples. I think yours rank highly in that [group]. Congratulations on this wonderful exhibition.

Karolyn: Thank you, Peter. We are honored to have you here today. As you know, Peter is running a lot of important projects here at Stanford Unversity and with NASA.

Peter: Yes, I can actually point out that we are observing things like this, and this (pointing at the G of the general relativity equation in Karolyn's “Grand Unified Field” painting) – the Einstein Field Equation here. This represents the work I do related to space and time. That’s something we are studying with a new satellite equipment in the orbit.

Sharon: This is a ...main... piece of Karolyn’s art work. Peter, can you explain to us how you think about it. Is it interesting to you?

Peter: I think visually it makes an impression… the scale of it, and the story that is told from different themes, from the left to the right. Certainly Karolyn has interesting, interesting numbers. I am not quite sure if I understand. There is a bit of mystery.

Audience: Yes, that’s how I feel too.

Karolyn: Thank you, Peter. How can I create mystery in front of you?

Peter: Well, but I think part of the art is about communicating with the artist, about how the artist sees the universe. The observers have to attempt to understand that. I think there are various levels that occur. I think the best art makes a statement about the artist’s view and what they see.

Karolyn: Thank you, Peter.