"Synchronicity" at Salesforce Tower SF
A Connecting Principle, Linked to the Invisible
Art often invites us to see the unseen. But sometimes, it takes a turn and asks us to reflect on the strangeness of what we do see. Why do unrelated things sometimes feel connected? Why does the world often seem like a web of coincidences? These questions lie at the heart of Synchronicity, a project by artist Greg Niemeyer that seeks to illuminate the strange, invisible threads tying our lives to the natural world and to each other.
Niemeyer begins with a paradoxical observation: unrelated events, when experienced together, can become meaningful. Imagine walking down the street, thinking about a song or book you love, only to cross paths with the author. Coincidence? Perhaps. But these moments often stick with us, leaving an impression that feels deeper than randomness. Psychologist Carl Jung and physicist Wolfgang Pauli called this Synchronicity—the idea that unrelated events occurring simultaneously take on subjective meaning, often revealing our inner states.
Niemeyer argues that perception shapes the world we live in by adding meaning and memorability to a sea of random events. But what if perception does more? If we guide our attention intentionally, could it steer our fate? Could focusing on certain patterns shape the reality we inhabit, helping us choose the version of the world we want to live in? Bringing patterns to our attention that might otherwise go unnoticed, Synchronicity offers a way to perceive many dynamic environmental observations all at once—encouraging us to guide our perceptions towards greater harmony with our environment.
An Animated Data Landscape
Synchronicity brings these concepts to life—quite literally—in the Bay Area. Instead of using paint, Niemeyer creates his landscape with data: streams of public and scientific measurements reflecting the ever-changing interplay between humans, nature, and the environment from the summer solstice of 2023 to the summer solstice of 2024. The data includes:
The length of the day and solar exposure.
The rhythm of rain and the quiet persistence of drought.
The tremor of seismic activity and the eternal turn of tides.
The flow of commuters in and out of the city.
The decline of air quality due to human activity.
Bonus “Easter Egg” animations marking historical events.
Each data stream controls a visual element of Niemeyer’s dynamic animation, displayed nightly on the iconic Salesforce Tower in San Francisco. Together, these elements form a living portrait of the Bay Area—a region defined not only by its natural beauty but also by the intense aspirations of its people.
Through this work, Niemeyer invites us to perceive patterns in our environment that might otherwise remain unnoticed. In perceiving these patterns, we may better align our actions with the rhythms of nature, creating a shared future of greater balance and harmony.
Science in Service of Art
The lifeblood of Synchronicity is data—collected, refined, and shared openly by government-funded science programs. These datasets make the Bay Area’s hidden rhythms accessible, relatable, and memorable:
NASA SOHO-SEM Version 4: Tracks solar extreme ultraviolet radiation, which influences weather and telecommunications.
NASA Landsat NDVI: Measures vegetation health across landscapes.
Bay Area Air Quality Management District: Highlights days when air pollution reaches unsafe levels.
Berkeley Seismology Lab: Captures the steady rumble of tectonic plates beneath the Bay Area.
NOAA National Data Buoy Center: Tracks the interplay of wind, waves, and sea surface temperature.
NASA GOES Satellites: Monitors atmospheric conditions above Salesforce Tower.
BART Rider Data: Records the daily ebb and flow of commuters at the Embarcadero station.
These sources combine to form a rich, multidimensional canvas where art and science collaborate to tell a story of interconnectedness.
A Celebration of Connection
Art on this scale thrives on collaboration. Niemeyer extends his gratitude to Jim Campbell and Emma Strebel and the Day for Night Monthly Artist Program for inviting him to bring this vision to Salesforce Tower, and to Boston Properties (BXP) for their commitment to supporting public art. Special thanks go to Chelle Gentemann (NASA) for her guidance on accessing and visualizing NASA satellite data. Very special thanks go to Lisa Niemeyer for her inspired color advice and unwavering support.
Synchronicity invites viewers to look up and celebrate the invisible systems that sustain life, inspire art, and connect us all. Whether it’s the cycles of the planet, the rhythm of data, or the simple act of pausing to notice a moment of coincidence, this work reminds us that we are all part of a shared story—one shaped by nature’s rhythms and human creativity.
Through the power of perception, Synchronicity aligns our awareness with the forces shaping our world, offering not just a vision of the environment but a way to harmonize with it.
Catch the Display
Synchronicity will be on view nightly during December 2024 on Salesforce Tower’s crown screen. On the winter solstice, the work will play all night, offering a moment of reflection as the longest night of the year transitions to the prospect of returning light.
About the Artist
Greg Niemeyer is a data artist and professor at UC Berkeley who creates works exploring the intersection of nature, culture, and technology. With Synchronicity, Niemeyer makes the strange familiar and the invisible visible, encouraging viewers to see themselves as active participants in the intricate systems that define our world.