Small horse figure on a plinth in front of a large black and white neutron tomography scan of the same horse figure.
Program

Invisible Revealed

Exhibition
Ended 25 Sept 2022
Ultimo
‘Using a combination of 9 different nuclear reactor, synchrotron and particle accelerator based technologies, ANSTO’s imaging and analytical capabilities show how culturally significant artefacts were manufactured, and how they might be better conserved for decades and centuries to come.’
Joseph Bevitt

New research and technologies can help us solve some mysteries in our collection. This exhibition showcased discoveries made through a partnership between Powerhouse and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The exhibition also featured digital 3D models of some objects and a digital reconstruction of a fragmentary carpet.

The Powerhouse Collection of more than half a million objects tells us much about our material culture but it also inspires many questions.

What are our objects made of? How old are they? Is anything hidden inside?

Over time, new research and technologies can help us solve these mysteries – and reveal new ones. Invisible Revealed highlights imagery work done by the museum in partnership with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). It shows some discoveries we made using ANTSO's state-of-the-art neutron beam and synchrotron X-ray facilities combined with digital visualisation techniques, including how to identify different makers of our samurai swords and how a 200-year-old pocket watch can play a waltz.

The exhibition also features digital 3D models of some Powerhouse Collection objects and a digital reconstruction of the missing portions of a fragmentary carpet completed by the EPICentre at UNSW using Artificial Intelligence.

Pocket watch

A rose gold pocket watch with a Roman numeral face on a white background

Mikroma II camera

A silver and black film camera on a white background

Alarm clock

A cream, white and silver alarm clock with a circular face, on a white background

Uşak carpet

Gallery

Two small ceramic warrior figures on a silver plinth, above them are blue and red x-ray scans.
A blue and black scan of a small warrior figure against a black background.
Two small ceramic warrior figures stand with one fist raised and are painted with green and orange.
An exhibition view of a figurine of Artemis on the right and the corresponding neutron imaging scan on the left.
White marble statuette of Artemis (Diana) striding forward with left leg advanced.
A semi-transparent white and yellow scan of a figurine of Artemis on a black background.
Small horse figure on a plinth in front of a large black and white neutron tomography scan of the same horse figure.
A transparent yellow neutron imaging scan of a pocket watch.
Pocket watch
An exhibition view of a wooden Boomerang with a steel reinforcing collar attached to the centre of the boomerang.
An exhibition view of a silver and black film camera on a metal platform.The shutter dials and counter are on the top. The glass lens have various dials around it and the view finder is on top.
An exhibition view a dark space containing a series of stainless steel plinths and perspex cases.

Learn more

Collaborators

Invisible Revealed is the result of an ongoing multidisciplinary partnership between ANSTO and Powerhouse Museum. The exhibition team was led by Scientist Joseph Bevitt, Curator Deborah Lawler-Dormer and Lead Engineer Tomasz Bednarz.