Week 2: Mathematics and Art
In this week’s lesson, Victoria Vesna taught us about zero, perspective and the golden ratio/ golden section. We learned that zero first appears in 650AD, and it was not until the 1600’s that it was used in the West. It was discovered by Brahmagupta. The ideas of perspective also existed in the East before it made its way to the West. It was discovered by al-Haytham. Giotto used an intuitive form of perspective, and the first painting showing true perspective was ‘Trinity’ by Massaccio. With the golden ratio, we learned it’s greek name phi, that the Egyptians used the the Golden ratio when building the Pyramids, the architects of the Parthenon used it, and Leonardo Da Vinci used it in his drawing of the Vitruvian Man. Mondrian and Le Corbusier also used the golden ratio. A piece that helped me understand more about Vanishing Points was Marc Frantz’ ‘Vanishing Points and Looking at Art’. I learned about how one-point perspective only has one vanishing point, and that where you view a painting can create a different perception of depth. ‘The Mathematical Art of MC Escher’ shows us that MC Escher also used perspective in his work, shifting perspective and adding many vanishing points to create optical illusions.
http://www.scottmcd.net/artanalysis/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Escher.jpg
An artist that plays around with perspective is Julian Beever, an internet- famous 3D chalk artist. Julian Beever creates works that can only be viewed from one perspective, but when they are viewed correctly (through a camera or phone), appear completely 3D. His artwork takes a lot of calculating and mathematics to create. Beever has added to the discoveries of Brunelleschi and al-Haytham by making works appear 3D.
http://www.julianbeever.net/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=2&Itemid=8
A group of artists that worked with perspective is ART+COM studios on their piece MOBILITY — REFLECTIVE KINEMATRONIC II. What appears to be random sets of hands holding mirrors reflecting light, is actually a synchronized light show on another wall. This artists are using perspective to alter the way we view light.
https://artcom.de/en/project/mobility/
I learned this week that artists use mathematics to make their artwork more accurate to reality, and to mimic nature’s patterns. I’ve learned this week that art, mathematics, and science are related in the sense that art can go further with the help of mathematics to appeal to viewers by looking more realistic or more natural and symmetrical.
Works Cited:
ART+COM Studios. "Mobility - Reflective Kinematronic II, 2010." ART+COM Studios. ART+COM Studios, 2010. Web. 14 Apr. 2017. <https://artcom.de/en/project/mobility/>.
Beever, Julian. "3D Illusions." Julian Beever. Julian Beever, 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2017. <http://www.julianbeever.net/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=2&Itemid=8>.
Frantz, Marc. "Lesson 3: Vanishing Points and Looking at Art." N.p.: n.p., 2000. 1-10. Print.
Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov. Dir. Victoria Vesna. Perf. Victoria Vesna. YouTube. Uconline, 09 Apr. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg>.
"The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher." Platonic Realms. Platonic Realms, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017. <http://platonicrealms.com/minitexts/Mathematical-Art-Of-M-C-Escher/>.
A lot of math does go into manipulating one's art: that woman's leg in Julian Beever's drawing is quite extended in order to give that illusion of "popping out". I feel like these artists have just grown a sense of intuition to do it in the background of their minds. With practice, you gain a sense of what goes where and the calculations are just done unconsciously in your head. That may be why people feel as if these disciplines are unrelated, which is of course, clearly not the case (as shown in lecture!).
ReplyDeleteThe inclusion of Julian Beever's art work is a great outside example of how the integration of math and art can produce unique artistic content. The ability to create the illusion of 3-D with a 2-D space is an enticing challenge and one that art has solved through math. Also the fact that the art looks whole when viewed from one perspective and completely distorted when looked from another points to how perspective is such a crucial element of an art piece; and that perspective too involves mathematical thinking. With the landscape of art changing due to the availability of 3-D pens and other artistic tools, I am curious to see what new things we'll see in the field of math and art.
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