Death Counter

Here's another item of cheerful art news with which to begin the new year. Hiscox insurers’ UK Headquarters in the City of London now has a giant LED on its facade to record the number of human deaths worldwide in 2009, whatever the cause. It was unveiled yesterday, set to zero. Its designer is Santiago Sierra, who claims to be an artist; but I really can't see any evidence of art in a giant LED hit counter. As for its accuracy ... how many unwanted female babies are being buried in rural India with neither the birth nor the infanticide having been recorded?