6174

Throughout the oeuvre of Andrés Ramírez Gaviria, mathematical elements and references abound, as evidenced prominently in works such as Formula, A Mathematical Theory of Communication, and Order Is Numbers. In these pieces, Gaviria delves into mathematical concepts that touch upon various themes and notions extending beyond pure mathematics into realms such as philosophy, logic, and computation.

In 6174, Gaviria directs his attention to Kaprekar’s Constant, named after the Indian mathematician D. R. Kaprekar. This mathematical curiosity involves a process applied to certain numbers, ultimately leading to the number 6174.

The process entails selecting any four-digit number (with at least two distinct digits), arranging its digits in descending and then ascending order to create two new numbers, and subsequently subtracting the smaller from the larger. This sequence is repeated with the resulting number until 6174 is reached, after which the process invariably produces 6174 with each subsequent iteration.

In Gaviria’s work, the number 6174 is depicted doubled and inverted, causing the digit 4 of both numbers to overlap, creating a semblance of an infinity sign. This visual representation points to the peculiar looping or infinite nature of the number, while also alluding to themes of convergence and the discovery of patterns within ostensibly random processes.