SUAN – XU Qian

Suan (Chinese: to calculate) is an installation projecting fractal patterns and animations based on parameter input from an abacus. Visitors participate by playing with the abacus. A hidden camera captures the numbers, which participants enter on the abacus. These numbers will be used as different parameters to generate different fractal image.

The work shows the charm of mathematics in a different approach. Filled with cultural and artistic inspirations, it is also accessible to people from different age range, education level and nationality. One does not need to know exactly what’s going on with the complex calculation to enjoy the beauty of mathematics.

Technical support: Dr. -Ing. Ding Luo

This project was created and exhibited in Ars Electronica Festival 2016. The artwork was also exhibited in Kunstuniversität Linz Rundgang 2016 and exhibition “Back to the Future” in bb15.