Week 2: Math + Art

Before this class, if someone had asked me if I knew that mathematics and art are connected and that one can reflect the other in many ways, I would definitely say: Yes! However, I’d immediately add: I’m not sure of the extent! Now, I believe I understand the vast common ground between math and art much better. The following video, illustrates the elegant geometry of the famous Mona Lisa portrait in details.

The Mathematics of Art | http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/beyond/articles/art/art1.html

http://cinemathsparadise.blogspot.com/2016_05_01_archive.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFTSAjZEqPw

When I watched the lecture videos and read Linda Henderson’s article and Abbot’s novel, I realized how mathematician, scientists, and artists have influenced each other throughout the history. While scientists have provided the artists with means and sources of ideas for their creations and have affected their creativity, artists or architects have also helped spreading scientific ideas. In "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion”, Linda Henderson explains how, for example, Einstein’s relativity theory has stimulated new dimensional arts.  Or in Abbot’s Flatland, we can see how the idea of dimensions has influenced the author of the novel. The novel also proves how mathematical or scientific ideas can be made intelligible for people through illustrations of art.

For example, the mathematics teacher and the artist, Patrick Honner, have created Building Sines to produce a learning activity for his students. He has used computer programs to transform his photography in mathematical ways.  He has created an interesting visual effect by compressing the original image along a vertical sine wave,

Building Sines, by Patrick Honner

http://gallery.bridgesmathart.org/exhibitions/2013-bridges-conference/phonner

Whether we like it or not, mathematics and art are inseparable. And therefore, people in the fields of humanities and in scientific fields should be aware of this integration and benefit the most from it. As someone who’s interested in becoming a professor one day, I’m now thinking of taking advantage of mathematically-inspired artworks to better teach science.

Sources

1. Abbott, Edwin Abbott. Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. New York: Penguin, 1998. Web. 15 Apr. 2017

2. Cinemaths Paradise. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <http://cinemathsparadise.blogspot.com/2016_05_01_archive.html>.

3. Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion." Leonardo 17.3 (1984): 205-10. JSTOR. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.

4. Mathematical Art Galleries. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <http://gallery.bridgesmathart.org/>.

5. "Mathematical Masterpieces: Making Art From Equations." Discover Magazine. N.p., 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <http://discovermagazine.com/mathart>.

6. The Mathematics of Art - Math Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2017. <http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/beyond/articles/art/art1.html>.

7. Vesna, Victoria. “Math and Art.” DESMA 9. Lecture.