"Meridian (Gold)" Shows you the Price of Gold in Real-Time in Long Island City

Become a paid member to listen to this article

Have you ever wondered what the value of gold is on a daily basis? Unless you’re Scrooge McDuck, we don’t know why you would want to. However, if you want to truly understand a new public art piece by Brooklyn artist Mika Tajima, it might be wise to check the Nasdaq.

Inside Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Meridian (Gold) will show you in real time if the price of gold is going up or down. The mist of water in the center of the sculpture will change color thanks to the use of LED lights. The water will be colored magenta if the price of gold goes up, cyan if it goes down. A computer algorithm is being used to check on the price of gold every two seconds. So when you enter the pink square, the color may change numerous times, depending on how long you sit.

Hunters Point South Park Meridian Gold Untapped Cities

Photo via Sculpture Center

The piece, which fits into Tajima’s previous work of geometry and color, was hand selected by the non-profit organization SculptureCenter. Specifically their program for high school students Public Process. It can be viewed and entered by anyone making the trip to Hunter’s Point South Park either by train or the East River ferry until September 25th.

Here are some more photos of the sculpture.