Pi (art project)

48.201111111111 16.366666666667Coordinates: 48 ° 12 ′ 4 ″ N , 16 ° 22 ′ 0 ″ E

Representation of the circle number π in the Vienna Opera Passage

Pi is the name of a media installation near Vienna's Karlsplatz . “Pi” is located in the Opernpassage between the exits to the subway and the exit at the Secession building near Vienna's Naschmarkt . The art project was developed by the Canadian artist Ken Lum from Vancouver .

Pi , which was installed from January 2005 to November 2006 and opened on December 1, 2006, consists of statistical information and a representation of the circle number π with 478 decimal places. After these, the last calculated decimal places are projected, which indicates the special significance of the number that gives the media installation its name and its infinity.

Over a length of 130 meters, in addition to the number Pi on reflecting showcases - a total of 16, which are referred to as factoids - various statistical data are conveyed in real time. In addition to the world population , serious topics such as the worldwide number of malnourished children, the growth of the Sahara since the beginning of the year and the time until Chornobyl will be re- habitable are displayed. Less serious topics such as the number of schnitzel consumed in Vienna since the beginning of the year or the current number of people in love in Vienna also come up.

In a visible display case in the middle of the passage there are images, texts and books on the topics of population development and migration .

Ken Lum developed the scientific data together with the SORA institute , which was responsible for data research and calculation of the algorithms in a concept study at the beginning of the project. Since then, SORA has updated the data once a year at the turn of the year. “Pi” is supposed to show that contemporary art is able to combine art with science , architecture and sociology . The aim of this project was to make Karlsplatz a “pulsating place of encounter, an artistically communicative meeting place with radiance”.