This project is a museum installation based on data on urban air pollution.Dirty air is a serious environmental problem. But unlike the garbage in the environment, it is not so noticeable. But unnoticeable does not mean harmless. This "silent threat" leads to the development of various diseases in humans, damages the leaves and roots of plants, negatively affects animals.
We took air pollution statistics from three of the world's largest capitals — Stockholm, Delhi and our home, Moscow — and turned it into a physical data installation. Through data and art, we offered museum visitors to see, touch, and appreciate the air we breathe.
On the left: the object "Delhi".
On the right: the object "Stockholm".
On the left: the object "Stockholm".
On the right: the object "Moscow".
We used data from 2020 (pre-COVID-19 to avoid data distortions). Each balloon in the installation represented 150,000 people. The level of air pollution was coded through garbage bags.
The air is considered safe to breathe when the content of PM2.5 particles does not exceed 10 µg/m3 (in 2021, the limit was reduced to 5 µg/m3). So to encode the data, we created a scale where.
Air pollution level
Regarding the WHO recommendation for 2020
- A transparent balloon without a trash bag — the average annual concentration of PM2.5 particles is within the normal range (mcg/m3);
- A transparent balloon in one garbage bag — the norm is exceeded by 1–2.5 times;
- A transparent balloon in two garbage bags — the norm is exceeded by 2.5–4 times;
- A transparent balloon in three garbage bags — the norm is exceeded by 4–5.5 times;
- A transparent balloon in four garbage bags — the norm is exceeded by 5.5 or more times.
- A transparent balloon in one garbage bag — the norm is exceeded by 1–2.5 times;
- A transparent balloon in two garbage bags — the norm is exceeded by 2.5–4 times;
- A transparent balloon in three garbage bags — the norm is exceeded by 4–5.5 times;
- A transparent balloon in four garbage bags — the norm is exceeded by 5.5 or more times.
Collective plaques for the museum
1. Air pollution in Delhi
The level of air pollution in Delhi, the capital of India, by fine particles PM 2.5 — pollutants harmful to the human body — in 2020.
2. Air pollution in Moscow
The level of air pollution in Moscow, the capital of Russia, by fine particles PM 2.5 — pollutants harmful to the human body — in 2020.
3. Air pollution in Stockholm
The level of air pollution in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, by fine particles PM 2.5 — pollutants harmful to the human body — in 2020.
Balloons, trash bags, wood, metal.
Kristina Ulasovich, Mariia Khomutova
Photos from the exhibition were taken by Yulia Dorokhova
