Math + Art

After the first module about two cultures, I knew that arts and humanities overlapped with math and science but I could only think of minor ways that connected the two cultures in a shallow manner. “Flatland” by Edwin Abbott Abbott brushed on merging the two cultures by using geometrical figures and physics concepts of dimensional analysis and Einstein’s theory of relativity to create a satire about the hierarchy of Victorian culture. For me, the moment of truth that art, math, and science were all connected came when I discovered the golden ratio, the Fibonacci number sequence, and fractals.

Mathematical depiction of the Golden Ratio

The golden ratio (approximately 1:1.618) is such that when a line is divided, the larger part divided by the smaller part is equal to the whole line divided by the larger part. This creates an aesthetically pleasing rectangle that is found in world famous paintings and architecture, thus using math to create masterpieces through art. 

Parthenon - Golden Ratio

It is unknown if the architects and artists knew of the ratio and included it into their creations consciously or unconsciously but it may be that the use of the ratio is the reason for the popularity of certain artworks or buildings. The human brain has a positive reaction to proportionality and organization, especially in people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

http://www.viralforest.com/12-pics-that-will-satisfy-your-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

Junpei Sakino Fractal

My favorite part of this module involved fractals. I was fascinated by the notion of art being derived from mathematical equations and algorithms. Junpei Sakino is famous for his fractals and has his own gallery at a university in Oregon where he taught college level calculus up until his retirement in 2006. Mr. Sakino encourages art by noting, “you don’t have to know college level math to create a large number of fascinating images, although higher math definitely helps you understand what’s under the hood and get beyond the basic technical level”. Mr. Sakino proves that mathematical algorithims can create beautiful landscapes in additions to abstract fractals.

Junpei Sakino Landscape Fractal

 Math is vital to the creation of artwork and even natural sciences like biology can be explained with math. The Fibonacci number sequence, which is related to the golden ratio (see golden ratio webpage in citations), can be used to explain the branching of trees, the flowering pattern in an artichoke, and many other patterns in biology. Art and science are virtually impossible without some form of mathematics and thus the two cultures must be deeply connected.

Flowering patterns in artichokes are nature's fractals

Naturally occuring fractals can be found in shells home to a nautilus

Citations

"African Fractals." Culturally-Situated Design Tools. Ron Eglash, 1 Jan. 2003. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. <http://www.ccd.rpi.edu/Eglash/csdt/african/African_Fractals/index.html>.

Artichoke image: http://seggleston.com/g3/var/albums/The-Culinary-Experience/Artichoke_12570.jpg?m=1359692197

"Fibonacci, Fractals, and Financial Markets - Socionomics.net." YouTube. Socionomics, 31 May 2007. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RE2Lu65XxTU>.

"Fractals - Mandelbrot." YouTube. DJ DlimitR (aka Carl Scripter), 17 June 2006. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ivRQDbAduoM>.

Fractals nautilus image: http://media.mnn.com/sites/default/files/styles/featured_blog/public/nautilus-feat.jpg

Golden ratio image: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/golden-ratio.html

Junpei Sakino fractal images: http://www.willamette.edu/~sekino/fractal/gallerymain.htm

Parthenon image: http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/subj/ats/teachingweb/teaching/t26-DesignPrinciples/TheGoldenSection/Parthenon.jpg

Pierce, Rod. "Golden Ratio" Math Is Fun. Ed. Rod Pierce. 22 Nov 2014. 12 Apr 2015 <http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/golden-ratio.html>

Weisstein, Eric W. "Mandelbrot Set." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/MandelbrotSet.html