The scientific phenomenon of sonoluminescence invokes transformative notions of poiesis, where creation brings forth the sublime and the unknown. In states of sonoluminescence, microscopic gas bubbles suspended in liquid are driven into violent implosive collapse by intense acoustic fields, producing a glorious, luminous emission. This moment of implosion and release offers a potent metaphor for transformation. Light and sound emerge together through pressure and intensity, echoing cosmological events in which matter and energy are brought into being through radical change.

Architecture plays a vital role in shaping the experience of ELEMENTS IX. The vertical configuration recalls ceremonial colonnades found in ancient temples, cathedral interiors, and the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. As visitors move through the illuminated field, time appears suspended. The act of walking becomes participatory, guided by shifting color, reflection, and the enveloping presence of sound.

 Conceived as a durational installation, Baroque Apocalypse unfolds gradually through the organic behavior of neon. Though light appears immaterial, it is contained within glass and activated by electrical current. The result is a tension between solidity and flux. Neon radiates continuity while resisting fixed form, offering a perceptual encounter with the infinite and with the elemental forces that shape human experience. 

Anne Katrine Senstad lives and works between Oslo and New York. Her work has been exhibited in museums, biennials, and public spaces throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States.

JG Thirlwell is an Australian-American composer, producer, and performer based in Brooklyn. Thirlwell’s composition premieres in 2026 and was created for Baroque Apocalypse.