Sense of Hope

On view at the Discovery Center

Sense of Hope by Refik Anadol (b.1985, Istanbul, Turkey)

Sense of Hope celebrates the impact of philanthropy and innovation—an emotional and artistic take on the incredible decline of child mortality in the last 25 years. Through the lens of data and creativity, this artwork invites viewers to witness progress, resilience, and the possibility of a brighter future.

In the past 25 years, millions of children have survived and gone on to thrive thanks to a global effort. This progress has been fueled by life-saving interventions supported by the Gates Foundation, like improved nutrition and increased access to vaccinations and antibiotics.

Using decades of data as his paint, and AI as his paintbrush, Anadol blends art and technology to create immersive, beautiful stories. In Sense of Hope, data visualizations of life-saving interventions are combined with moving photography and particle simulations – transforming data into a mesmerizing narrative of progress and hope.

Since 2000, the global under-five mortality rate has fallen by more than half, reflecting decades of investment and collaboration by governments, philanthropies, communities, and partners.

Refik Anadol is an internationally renowned media artist, director, and pioneer in the aesthetics of data and machine intelligence. Using data as the foundation of his art, created through machine learning algorithms, he produces site-specific data paintings and sculptures, live performances, and immersive installations.