倫敦的聲音化作資料中心外牆上的驚艷點陣藝術

A remarkable new public artwork has been revealed in west London, and it is already drawing attention for its size and unique design. The piece, called '11 Million Dots,' was created by artist Rafael El Baz and is now displayed on the side of a large data centre in Park Royal, Ealing. This is not just any artwork—it covers a massive area of 2,700 square metres, which is about 29,000 square feet, and stretches across the six-story facade of the building. The artwork is made from aluminium panels that have been carefully perforated with thousands of tiny dots.

What makes '11 Million Dots' so special is how it was created. Rafael El Baz spent time in the Park Royal area, recording the everyday sounds that make up the local environment. He captured the noise of traffic, the wind, and the general hum of the city. More importantly, he interviewed over 120 local residents and business owners, recording their voices and stories. Instead of just playing these sounds, El Baz transformed them into binary code, which is the language computers use, made up of only ones and zeros. He also turned the audio into visual waveforms. These codes and waveforms were then used as patterns to punch holes into the aluminium panels, creating abstract designs that represent the data and stories of the community.

El Baz explained that his work is about more than just making something beautiful. He wants people to think about the materials we use and the stories we often ignore. By turning the voices and sounds of local people into a permanent, sustainable artwork, he hopes to show that everyone’s story matters. The artwork is part of the London Design Festival, which celebrates creativity in the city. Justine Simons, London’s deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries, praised the project, saying that public art like this brings the city to life and helps connect communities. She noted that the patterns on the building were inspired by real conversations and the local environment, making the data centre a landmark that reflects the people and nature around it.