Suan

Qian Xu
Installation, 2016
Interface Cultures 

Suan (chinese: to calculate) is an installation projecting fractal patterns and animations based on parameter input from an abacus.

The visitors participate by playing with the abacus. A hidden camera captures the numbers, which the participants enter on the abacus. These numbers will be used as different parameters to generate different fractal images. 

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

Exhibition at: IC at ars electronica 2016, Linz, Austria