In a striking blend of antiquity and technology, the sacred site of Delphi will host an immersive new media installation reimagining the ancient Oracle through the lens of artificial intelligence.
Unveiled through the Delphi Economic Forum, the project — titled “The Garden of Pythia” — is the latest creation of internationally renowned artist Charles Sandison.
Commissioned by the Polygreen Culture & Art Initiative (PCAI), the installation transforms the site of the former “pi” — the Global Center for Circular Economy and Culture — into a living, data-driven artwork. Drawing on Delphic mythology, AI, and environmental science, Sandison’s work uses sensors, real-time data, and projection mapping to simulate a modern-day oracle in motion.
“The Garden of Pythia is a fictional landscape — part ancient ancient Greek mountainside, part digital realm,” said Sandison. The installation fuses ancient inscriptions, archaeological fragments, and historical texts with real-time data from the local ecosystem, including flora, fauna, and geological conditions.
The projections respond to temperature and light, evolving alongside the natural rhythms of Delphi’s environment. Sandison likened the ancient oracle to today’s AI systems, calling Delphi an early model of complexity and predictive insight — a forerunner, in spirit, to institutions like CERN.
“Visitors may find that the questions we now ask AI echo those once posed to the Pythia,” Sandison noted.
The project was hailed by PCAI as a major cultural and ecological statement. “This installation pays homage to Delphi’s timeless legacy while expressing our commitment to environmental awareness and technological innovation,” said Athanasios Polychronopoulos, CEO of Polygreen and founder of PCAI.
PCAI’s artistic director, Kika Kyriakakou, emphasised the sculptural quality of Sandison’s data-based visuals, which blur the lines between digital art and ecological storytelling. Complementing the visual elements, sound artist Kostadis Michail created an original ambient soundscape that deepens the mythic atmosphere.
The Garden of Pythia opens to the public at 8 p.m. on April 9, with free admission on opening night. The installation is expected to draw visitors from across the globe to experience Delphi not only as a monument of the past, but as a portal to the future.
