Wall of War is a massive scale data visualization with intense complexity and a visceral effect on the viewer. The project sources data from the Wikileaks-leaked War records from 2004-2010. It includes events as mundane as a project file being deposited and as severe as air strikes or IEDs.
With your help, this project will explore the idea of war and the implications of large scale leaks, as well as critique the state of data visualization and information graphics today. A traditional reductionist approach might not adequately reflect the severity, scope, and importance of this data. Because of this, I have chosen a detailed and expansive representation.
The final piece will be exhibited in a gallery or outdoor space in the arts district of Richmond, Virginia. Admission will be free, and the piece will go up for the First Friday art walk in December 2014. The piece will stay up for the month of December or as long as possible.
The project began in fall 2013 when I made a small scale poster for a data visualization project. This features around 1,200 entries, roughly one quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the total data. The visualization consists of icons I created to represent the events in the simplest way possible. Each cell is 1/2″ x 1/2″, and clarity is the goal for each individual icon.
With the aid of this Kickstarter campaign and your backing, this project will be presented to the public free of charge either in doors or outside. The exact space within Richmond is still being worked out, but I am looking at a couple university-owned spaces in the arts district, as well as coordinating with a local architect who may have vacant space.
My hope is that the installation may draw interest from museums and galleries around the US. The form of a vinyl print is very portable and can be easily relocated to new venues. Additionally, the project files will be licensed under Creative Commons non-commercial attribution license, meaning anyone is free to use the files for personal, education, or non-profit design purposes.
