11 Million Dots

Vantage Data Centers, a leading global provider of hyperscale data centre campuses, provided the entire façade of a data centre on its second London campus (LHR21) as the canvas for this unique piece. Created by artist Rafael El Baz in collaboration with the Park Royal community, the piece honours the area’s industrial past while celebrating its ongoing transformation into a dynamic urban hub. 11 Million Dots is a story of transformation powered by collaboration. Just as Park Royal evolves, so too did the sounds of its streets and workshops - ambient noise, conversations and machinery - collected by Raf and transformed into a striking visual language. The title draws from musical notation, where each dot carries meaning and rhythm, mirrored in the 11 million perforations that form the artwork. Together, they create a visible, tactile score of place and change. For this unique commission, Rafael was inspired by how many different forms of data exist, how information is captured and how the history of a local community can be reflected during its transformation. He began by listening - capturing everyday ambient sounds and recording over 120 audio interviews with local residents and business owners. Inspired by the ephemeral nature of sound, he translated those recordings into binary code and audio waveforms and manipulated them to create forms that evoke microchips, maps and city landscapes. These designs became the six-storey installation covering the data centre’s south façade. Made from perforated aluminium panels, the artwork shifts with the light, revealing a hint of colour behind the holes - connecting the piece to the park it faces. Visitors to the park will find QR codes directing them to the accompanying website where they can experience the soundscapes that inspired the work. Layered and intricate, 11 Million Dots invites viewers to consider how data - usually invisible - can become a powerful symbol of memory, identity and change. Commissioned by Vantage Data Centers - a leading global provider of hyperscale data centre campuses - vantage-dc.com Produced by Loom - loomprojects.co.uk