Week 2: Math + Art

Applying mathematical principles to art helps shape artists’ perspectives and interpretations. In Flatland, Abbott uses geometry to portray society and gender, where women are line segments and men are many-sided figures (Abbott 4-5). Abbott created a fictional two-dimensional world where social stratification is determined by the shapes’ number of sides; ultimately, the highest status is a sphere, a three-dimensional object. Abbott’s interpretation of society demonstrates the difference in perspective through mathematics. For example, women are line segments, but from a side view, they are only a single point (Abbott). Abbott’s social hierarchy suggests that lower levels of the hierarchy will not understand a higher level’s perspective, such as with two-dimensional versus three-dimensional object. Perspective allows artists to get a better understanding of the world.

4D Art by Tony Robbin
http://fourdimensionalart.blogspot.com/
In addition to three-dimensional space, there exists a fourth dimension. This fourth dimension have “encouraged artists to depart from visual reality” (Henderson 2), thus creating abstract art. Human beings cannot visualize the fourth dimension; therefore, mathematics depends on art for visualization.   
Art by Piet Mondrian
https://www.pinterest.com/magdalenaurbank/piet-mondrian/

Piet Mondrian is known for using geometry and primary colors in his abstract pieces (Uconlineprogram). His work uses geometric shapes to build other shapes. Mondrian uses proportion and scaling to create his work. His art conveys reality and logic by expressing a balance in the world based on how the shapes are drawn. The horizontal and vertical lines can be interpreted as opposing forces in the world, since horizontal and vertical lines move in different directions and are displayed differently.

  
Lung Fractals
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFT1a4CwtWmp6Pb790sGH2ROZBreNpyE9h4u4F24xaI-oMvxfwR2Xdhg76Bnwa1s12xMLmtHQ77u6_s7MUCZg-Q56lExZrOooYZJEClEoam7-ywTQavv_7R95Z34nT5lijpeRKoi3fKA/s1600/ralph-hutchings-resin-cast-of-the-human-lungs-and-bronchial-tree.jpg

Mandelbrot Set, a type of fractals – object with self-similarity – is another example that demonstrates mathematical art (Weisstein). Fractals can be represented by an iterative equation: z = z2+c (DlimitR).  Mandelbrot set continues infinitely (“Mandelbrot Set”). Since it increases to infinity, art can portray the idea of a fractal clearly by showing the pattern within that one pattern. Understanding fractals, artists will have a deeper sense of patterning and for example, can create a biological model of blood vessels of the lungs.

Mathematicians and artists both depend on one another for interpretation and concrete representation. This connection between math, science and art is significant. Art is a visualization tool for science and math; math and science work to interpret meaning and provide proof for abstract work. The contribution of all three cultures helps create a well-understood world.


References
Abbott, Edwin A. "Flatland A Romance of Many Dimensions." Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.
DlimitR. "Fractals - Mandelbrot." YouTube. YouTube, 17 June 2006. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.
Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion." JSTOR. The MIT Press, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.
"Mandelbrot Set." Mandelbrot Set -- from Wolfram MathWorld. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.
Uconlineprogram. "Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Apr. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.
Weisstein, Eric W. "Fractal." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 1: Two Cultures

Image
Snow brings up the important idea of society considering art and science as two cultures. I am a Computational and Systems Biology major and have wondered if the two cultures can be used together to improve healthcare. Two Cultures discusses society viewing art and science as two different subjects when they should be viewed as one. He states that the two fields are “comparable in intelligence” (Snow 2), yet each side has a “distorted image of each other” (Snow 4). These perspectives are influenced by our education system (TheRSAorg). Since our education is based on industrialization’s production line mentality, people do not question the segregation when schools teach art and science separately, but view it as a norm. Thus, the idea of two cultures is engrained into their minds.  UCLA Royce Hall, a building in between north and south campus Two cultures are portrayed at UCLA, where north and south campus are divided based on students’ majors. STEM majors spend most o...
Read more

Week 4: Medicine+Technology+Art

Image
The overlap between medicine and art in the form of medical technology applies to society and can be used to prolong and save lives. One such invention is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is a scan of the human body used to detect brain tumors, cancer, or other conditions. The image scans convey the medical information. MRI scans definitely tell us a lot scientifically, but it uses artistic aspects to provide these results. MRI Machine Before reading Casini’s essay, I never knew an MRI scan included art in every aspect. The sound of the MRI examination is termed “acoustic”, where there is rhythm to the noise (Casini). In addition to sound effects, MRI also has appealing visuals. Within the machine, there is a mirror that “functions as an outside perspective in order to decrease the sense of claustrophobia inside the scanner” (Casini). Through this mirror effect, patients can feel more at ease during the examination. This combination of art and science help create a usable...
Read more

Week 3: Robotics + Art

Image
Johannes Gutenberg brought the printing press to life, which “revolutionized the way people can see and describe the world they live in” (Uconlineprogram). The adaptation of different technologies in addition to his ideas changed the world and brought forth the technological era.  A combination of machines and electricity led to the development of mechanization. This also led to expansion of knowledge and education made available to the public (Norman). Printing Press Mechanization was one of the most important steps in the development of technology. Work done by hand to work done through machinery has improved production rates and outreach. Through mechanization, computers were created and as we see today, information is transmitted through the internet almost instantaneously, creating a new art medium. Davis discusses the ability of transmitting information almost perfectly: “digital bits, compatible with the new generation of tools that see, hear, speak, and compute…Thi...
Read more