Where art meets life… and death

A unique work of art that documents the annual number of deaths worldwide has provoked significant public and media interest since going on show at Hiscox’s London headquarters.

Death Counter, by Spanish artist Santiago Sierra, is a giant LED display designed to serve as a fast-paced reminder of the transient nature of human life, recording deaths from all causes during its time on the facade of Hiscox’s HQ throughout 2009. The work has been loaned to Hiscox in exchange for an insurance policy of €150,000, payable in the event of Sierra’s death and valid for the duration of the exhibition. The policy means that Death Counter exists as more than an artwork – it is a binding contract between Hiscox and the artist.

The death count is based on a demographic projection taken from the US census, currently estimated at more than 55 million deaths a year, at a rate of nearly two per second. The life insurance value has been set in relation to the value of the artwork.

"It acts as a prompt to remind me that there are more important things going on in the world"

Like many pieces of modern art, Death Counter has provoked a variety of reactions, with visitors and Hiscox employees sharing their views with reception staff. One reported: “The majority of people who come in are intrigued, but when they find out what it’s all about, they leave without saying goodbye! But it’s certainly been a talking point.” While some have found the reference to death somewhat depressing, others have taken away a deeper message. “Like a lot of art, it makes you think, and that’s not a bad thing,” said one Hiscox employee. “It acts as a prompt to remind me that there are bigger things going on in the world,” said another viewer.

Robert Read, Group Fine Art Underwriter at Hiscox, said: “This is a challenging and thought-provoking piece that will make its mark on the city. Hiscox is in the business of valuing risk, so the relationships between the contract, value of life and unusual property are familiar topics. It portrays the complexity of commerce.”

Death Counter is the latest work to form part of Hiscox Art Projects, which aims to make exciting, contemporary collections and exhibitions more accessible to the community.