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Review

Garden of Quantum Delights: Ent-

British artist Libby Heaney brings the quantum revolution to Berlin with her new show, Ent-

Schering Stiftung, Berlin, 2022. Photograph: Andrea Rossetti

Apparently, quantum computing is going to revolutionise our lives. How and why, and whether should we even really care, hardly factor in. But it will – and, perhaps in preparation for this revolution, the British artist Libby Heaney has created Ent-, an immersive (like everything now) installation that uses quantum computing as subject matter.

Heaney, one learns, is the only artist in the world using quantum computing as a medium. That’s probably because she is the only one that understands it. After completing a PhD and post-doc in quantum mechanics, she has used her expertise to reimagine the central panel of Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights. This painting, which symbolises humanity’s insatiable desire for carnal pleasures, provides a perplexing but nonetheless vivid backdrop to Heaney’s entire piece. The 360-degree show surrounds you on every side but, without a beginning or end, it’s hard to get your head around it.

The otherworldly – and often quite captivating – graphics are accompanied by an excellent soundtrack, ranging from hushed words to a reverberating bass boom. One minute you’re plunged underwater, next you’re floating upwards in a sickly mass of throbbing organic forms and glitchy objects – there is plenty to savour, and all free of charge.

Through May 1 Schering Stiftung, Mitte