Live Test on Two Pieces of Platinum (detail) pastel, ink and platinum metalpoint on watercolour paper.

University of Oxford Department of Engineering Science Collection

On 19th March 2018 the artist observed a live test from the Thermofluids Laboratory Control Room at the Department of Engineering Science. The test involved extremely high pressures and temperatures in the test tunnel, as air was released at 15000 metres per second producing a sonic boom. This drawing is inspired by this event and uses a combination of materials to reflect the test and some of the ideas behind it. The blue is a direct match of one of the colours on the test tunnel and part of the drawing is made using platinum wire.