Hanna Ljungh: Curiosity Cabinet (boron 10 mg)

Curiosity Cabinet (boron 10 mg): You, me, rock, mountain – commodities of the quantified universe (Impact Crater) by Hanna Ljungh (2019) can be found in the Cabinet Room on the third floor at Sveavägen 65.

Dimensions: 36 × 22 × 23 cm
Materials: wood, glass, nails, mirror, Styrofoam, and boron

The title Curiosity Cabinet references the Renaissance tradition of collecting and displaying rare and unusual objects from the natural world. Hanna Ljungh’s cabinet, however, focuses on metals and minerals that are essential to contemporary society. These materials are extracted for use in batteries, communication technologies, vehicles, and construction—but they are also fundamental components of the human body.

The work highlights the connection between humans and the earth. The same materials extracted from mountains and rock formations are also present within us. Through this relationship, the artwork raises questions about extraction, measurement, efficiency, and the increasing quantification of both natural resources and human life.

The concept also relates to the “quantified self” movement, in which data and scientific measurement are used to monitor and optimize physical and mental performance.

Ljungh’s cabinet contains boron, a semi-metal that some scientists believe may have contributed to the emergence of life on Earth. One theory suggests that boron arrived via meteorites and played a role in the development of early biological processes.

Its presence in the artwork invites reflection on the connections between human life, geology, and the wider cosmos.

An adult human body contains approximately 10 mg of boron. Boron is involved in several biological processes, including functions related to hormone activity and mineral metabolism.