Week 2: Math and Art

 The Worlds of Math and Art- Week 2

April 12, 2024

Mathematics and art have been used hand in hand throughout history. Artists who experiment and work with

math through art have been influenced by the culture surrounding mathematics. For example, there was a

smaller group of artists who were interested/engaged with non-euclidean geometry because it didn’t reach the

popularity that the concept of the fourth dimension did (1984, p. 204). This week's material opened my eyes to

the true extent that math and art intersect. Concepts of mathematics find themselves not only in art, but also in

nature. For example, the fibonacci sequence is shown in an array of natural occurrences on earth such as seed

heads, vegetables, and pinecones. 

Nature’s patterns: Golden spirals and branching fractals. CNET. (n.d.). https://www.cnet.com/pictures/natures-patterns-golden-spirals-and-branching-fractals/5/ 

Methods that utilize math such as perspective were used by painters to aid with realism. Perspective also is

involved with math and art such as in the world of Flatland as created by Edwin A. Abbott. With the complex

discussion of dimensions paired with the artistic expressions of writing and visual development. As Professor

Vesna states, “if you want to draw, paint, or sculpt these forms (regular and irregular shapes), sometimes you

may want to use mathematical formula to calculate or measure dimensions, areas, or volumes, and if you don’t

know how to do that, then you just have to fake it or estimate it,” ( 2012). Architect Fillipo Brunelleschi found

the first correct version of linear perspective around 1413, was trained in geometry and surveying methods, and

also did drawings of ancient Roman structures. Architecture as a craft heavily uses both math such as geometry

and algebra and artistic principles. 

Jakucewicz, A. (2022, November 17). Filippo Brunelleschi - brilliant architect of the early renaissance. Italy for me. https://en.italy4.me/famous-italians/filippo-brunelleschi.html 

An example of a piece that uses mathematical formulas and other methods is the piece “Suspended Helical Stair”

by Mark Donohue. I chose this piece for my blog because of its simplicity in the materials and presentation of the

piece, but the complexity of the construction and physics that make the piece work. The artist used geometric

patterns of suspended cables with help from a leading structural engineer, showing how people from art and

STEM specializations have places in creating art. I could imagine the artists and engineers perspective of making

sure they could work together to create a piece that worked mathematically and structurally, but also illustrated

what the artist was hoping to achieve. 

Mathematical imagery: 2020 mathematical art exhibition. American Mathematical Society. (2020). https://www.ams.org/publicoutreach/math-imagery/2020-Exhibition

Sources

Abbott, E. A. (1884). Flatland: A romance of many dimensions. 

Henderson, L. D. (1984). The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean geometry in modern art: Conclusion. Leonardo, 17(3), 205. https://doi.org/10.2307/1575193 

Jakucewicz, A. (2022, November 17). Filippo Brunelleschi - brilliant architect of the early renaissance. Italy for me. https://en.italy4.me/famous-italians/filippo-brunelleschi.html 

Vesna, V. (2012b, April 9). Mathematics-PT1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg&t=5s 

Mathematical imagery: 2020 mathematical art exhibition. American Mathematical Society. (2020). https://www.ams.org/publicoutreach/math-imagery/2020-Exhibition