When Mathematics & Art Collide
By Jon, published on 31/03/2018 We Love Prof - AU > Academia > Maths > Learning Maths: More Links between Art & MathematicsWe often come across people who see science as a kind of game … It is not uncommon to meet maths enthusiasts who see reality through a prism of numbers.
Indeed, numbers are constantly around us. Functions, vectors and algorithms govern the course of the stars, the lifecycle of nature, the cycle of seasons, the laws of physics and their movements… We also know the theory of the golden ratio, which, combined with symmetry has been well exploited by great architects of all ages.
The artistic sphere is not certainly lacking: mathematical harmony and rhythm reign don’t only rule music, but also visual works. How can you separate geometry and figurative arts?
Let’s look at seven astonishing examples of this harmony of elements between maths and arts, which should feature in all History of Art curriculums!
To learn all about maths and much more …
Snow Art
Each snowflake is unique, and this uniqueness gives us these remarkable natural rosettes.
Simon Beck set out to explore this path already paved by nature. In the heart of Europe, in the middle of the Alps, he has drawn out amazing designs in the snow. He remains the number one in the field – and that’s the truth!
Snow Art Show | Geometry to the rescue of contemporary art | Source: http://inhabitat.com
His work, Snow Art, published by S-Editions, features his masterpieces in 200 photos (mostly aerial views). The story of their author is not forgotten. The visual arts have truly left the university campus and traditional methods of teaching has been given good breath of air – the air of freedom!
Here, you’ll not find any brushes or colour palettes: only a warm suit, ski hat and ski mask! But it may take half a day of intense concentration and physical work to get such results. To top it all off you’ll see some exceptional landscapes: it’s a true philosophy of life.
If you want to do it, it will allow you to do all sorts at the one time, sports, maths and art … But be carefully where you place your feet to not spoil the work!
Discover 5 misconceptions about mathematics or learn about the Genius of Albert Einstein and his contribution to Maths.
Intricate patterns
New technologies have made it possible to combine different layers, dimensions and borders.
The Iranian artist Hamid Naderi Yeganeh had an excellent idea to fully use the endless possibilities offered by computing. Check out his personal website to discover his creations.
From the city of Qom where he lives, this computer scientist generates thousands of mathematically interwoven patterns, where harmony is of upmost importance. His work is known throughout the world, and has been hailed by the media, such as the Huffington Post or CNN Style.
Art or mathematics? | Source: tes.com
Combining ellipses or rectangles right beside circles, squares and segments. Sometimes, through trial and error, animals or objects come to life, by chance, through new combinations. Of course, the use of encrypted data does not replace the need for inspiration to achieve quality results.
Who knows, a fine arts teacher could be hiding behind your maths teacher! Why not ask a maths tutor how he created these fascinating works?
An art that the genius of Einstein would have appreciated!
Fractals
A barbaric term? No! The fractal simply refers to a mathematical object – such as a surface or a curve – whose structure remains the same despite any variation in scale.
Another sign that art and maths are not miles apart.
Fractals: a common foundation of knowledge between maths and art. | Source: visualhunt
In the artistic field, Liz Blankenship and Doctor Daniel Ashlock took a serious interest in these notions. To describe their inspiration, they talk of “algorithmic taxonomy of fractals“. The process is to classify fractals by working on the equations that generate them.
Well-chosen colors, with several nuances to draw and bring out better the contours of the main shapes, giving great clarity to the whole.
It plays on the equality of conversions: the apparent complexity is due only to a repetition of set patterns based on angles and distances having equivalent ratios between them.
Some paintings made in this way using the algorithms will give you vertigo.
Indeed, our time is has experienced unknown upheavals up until the nineteenth century!
Isometrics and 3D
If the fine arts seemed to slide in the context of deconstruction encouraged by figures such as Marcel Duchamp, coherence comes back to the heart of the concerns. Not to mention order.
As for the interpretation, the isometric interweaving is not very far from a François Morellet. Here, the pioneer is none other than the mathematician John Nash, assisted by Nicolaas Kuiper.
Again, without a powerful computer, nothing would be possible. The artist of the 21st century visits the infinitely small and the nanometers in a personal way to offer the public three-dimensional isometric copies of real objects. Or, rather, details …
It calls to mind Bernar Venet, if we’re talking about landmarks …
An art brought to life through mathematical calculations and computer science.
High Definition Mathematics | Even better quality than photography … and maybe one day it’s very own spot in the Louvre? | Source: hevea.imag.fr
The Hevea project invites us to get closer to the smallest components of reality. Academic canons are finally taken up and completed by the mathematical study of details. These unheard-of applications should be shown to all A-level students looking to find meaning in their science classes.
3D Mathematical Models
They are not often spotted in art museums. Or even in maths… Yet it offers infinite possibilities to the most imaginative and inventive contemporary minds. Who knows how to develop such a model that will be recognised throughout the world!
Australian mathematician and teacher Henry Segerman has first and foremost wanted to make his field of work special by focusing on education and collaboration. In short, to overcome exercises and old troublesome problems, in order to give a friendly and quasi-literary feel to the most “hard” and abstract sciences.
According to him, words make it possible to tell stories, but one can make art with mathematical ideas and vocabulary. Having roots in art could therefore allow you to have roots in maths. Logic!
Polyhedrons, quintessences, puzzles, surfaces, stereographic projections and other four dimensional polytopes: our Australian scientist sells his most treasured creations in the form of objects. The exemplary modeling found in the feature image of this article is an excellent example of this.
A discipline that would perhaps never have emerged without the evolution of maths over the last centuries.
Mathematical art
We owe the foundation of this to Kerry Mitchell, an engineer who works at NASA and who in 2012 wanted to celebrate the landing of the Curiosity probe on Mars.
Any painter would like to have the same technical means, to create such an effective dynamic in their creations. Japanese prints are sometimes created in the most lively of ways.
The elements | The mathematisation of art achieves results comparable to those of paintings, photography or printmaking | Source: ommons.wikimedia.org (Holusai)
The artist goes beyond modern art by using the data sequences, the reproduction of shapes and the representation of concrete objects. This approach is new in the history of art.
The Ministries of National Education and Culture could consider going down this route to make science a favourite subject for A-level students. Applying abstract knowledge of this kind is of great pedagogical effectiveness! Food for thought. Perhaps one day, an art competition or exhibition will replace all examinations … No, creativity does not stand in the way of learning basic principles of mathematics. Just ask maths tutor near you if you can try to make your own artwork based on the principles you want to study.
“Mathematical art”: an expression that will soon be part of your mathematics vocabulary?
The Fractal Version Fabergé
Fabergé eggs are internationally recognised. But what about their scientific re-exploration through fractals?
The British physicist Tom Beddard has little to envy of the famous Russian jeweller born in 1846 and died in 1920. Our English friend, adopted by Scotland, is a doctor of St. Andrews University. His transition to higher education allowed his projects to take off the ground.
He put 3D technology and applied it to the Fabergé 3.0 egg design where the details are always more precise and complex.
The result is stunning and seems to offer us jewellery from intersidereal spaces! And the Academy of Fine Arts would not disagree.
Tom Beddard’s works are not limited to Faberge eggs. Collections of planetary motifs, Venetian masks, etc., are also made in the same way.
3D | Three-dimensional geometry and fractals reinterpret jewellery | Source: sub.blue
Arithmetic offers the possibility of rationalising the arts, whether one is a musician, a sculptor, a painter or something else. Artistic creation meets the educational and digital world with very little effort.
Artistic activity on an algebraic basis is still a recent creation. It’s up to you to get started and discover new horizons through abstraction!
Besides studies, this can be a good way to motivate yourself: yes, a theorem can be useful and create beautiful things; Yes, a polygon can come to life! Young artists of tomorrow, get started! Who knows, the Louvre museum could open its doors to you one day, with a special section “Arts mathematics”!
From the birth of maths to now, a lot has changed.
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