The Texas State University System
Public Art
Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas

Adrian Aguilera and Betelhem Makonnen
untitled (in the beginning was the photon), 2024
Neon Tubing
Dimensions Variable

In the beginning was the photon—a fundamental particle of light and metaphor for the evolution of communication. This neon sculpture considers light's journey from ancient signals to quantum networks. Photons, timeless messengers, bridge vast distances in space-time, shaping how we perceive the world. As carriers of primordial starlight and enablers of modern telecommunications, photons remind us of Marshall McLuhan's insight: "The medium is the message." In our information-saturated era, this artwork illuminates our power to shape media even as it shapes us.