week two blog | susana esqueda, desma9
Wk2 Blog
Through this week’s materials, I have learned how art and mathematics exist in a visceral entanglement of the other. The schismatic divisions between mathematics and art—reproduced by the binary education system—begin to fade away when we recognize the mathematical undercurrents of art (and life), and vice versa.
Within “ancient wonders like the Egyptian Pyramids” (ORIGO Education) the conjunction of art and math can be seen, elucidating how both concepts coalesce to create aesthetic and structural objects. The Egyptian pyramids meet the golden ratio, a mathematical proportion utilized to obtain a harmonic effect, elucidating the relationship between mathematics, art, and architecture.
Dennis. “Why and How Did the Ancient Egyptians Use Mathematics.” AstronomerGuide, 14 Sept. 2022, https://astronomerguide.com/why-and-how-did-the-ancient-egyptians-use-mathematics/.
Techniques such as linear perspective, symmetry, proportions, the golden ratio—all of these are rooted in basic mathematical and geometric concepts that exist in “almost every part of daily life” (Ahlstrom). By utilizing these concepts, art becomes more realistic and accurate. As Professor Vesna reiterated in her lecture, “art requires math” (Vesna 3:26), and in the same sense, mathematics needs art. They exist in a mutual relationship of inspiration and reciprocity.
This mutual inspiration becomes evident through the work of M.C. Escher. In his work, he marries mathematical and geometric concepts with surrealist art, creating pieces which depict accurate mathematics in a creative way. In his painting of endless stairs, Escher depicts the mathematical concepts of the Penrose triangle, visually conceptualizing these often difficult-to-grasp understandings and showcasing “the ability of art inspiring mathematical work and in turn mathematics inspiring artistic work” (Cooper).
“Top 5 Expressions of Mathematics in Art.” Mathematics, 29 Sept. 2021, https://uwaterloo.ca/math/news/top-5-expressions-mathematics-art.
Thus, this week taught me that artists and scientists use math to bring their art to life, and vice versa. Math and art are both conceptualizations which are present everywhere—ultimately, art is math, and math is art. A really cool piece I came across is Eric J. Heller’s Transport VI, showcasing the ”the mathematical patterns of nature” seen through the electron paths measured in microns (Gamwell). This beautiful piece reiterated to me that math, science, and art truly are everywhere, and they cannot exist without the other.
Gamwell, Lynn. “Why the History of Maths Is Also the History of Art.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2 Dec. 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/science/alexs-adventures-in-numberland/2015/dec/02/why-the-history-of-maths-is-also-the-history-of-art.
Based on what we discussed this week, mathematics, art, and science are more connected than I initially perceived. The polarizing juxtaposition taught to us within the education system—separating art from science, and art from math—is more imagined than real. At the end of the day, usually “artists, physicians, and mathematicians are usually in step” (Henderson 209) with one another. These approaches to conceptualizing the world around us ultimately bleed into one another.
References
Ahlstrom, Amanda. “The Relationship between Art and Math.” A Grade Ahead Blog, 21 July 2021, https://blog.agradeahead.com/post/the-relationship-between-art-and-math/.
Cooper, Luke. “Art and Mathematics.” Medium, Nice Slice, 10 Aug. 2019, https://medium.com/nice-slice/art-and-mathematics-a2677a515450.
Gamwell, Lynn. “Why the History of Maths Is Also the History of Art.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2 Dec. 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/science/alexs-adventures-in-numberland/2015/dec/02/why-the-history-of-maths-is-also-the-history-of-art.
Henderson, Linda Dalyrmple. "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion." Leonardo, Vol. 17, No. 3. (1984), pp. 205-210.
ORIGO Education. “Proof in History: The Relationship between Maths and Art.” ORIGO Education | Primary School Mathematics Resources and Programs, 14 Dec. 2021, https://www.origoeducation.com.au/blog/proof-in-history-the-intertwined-relationship-between-maths-and-art/.
Vesna, Victoria, director. Mathematics-Perspective-Time-Space. YouTube, YouTube, 9 Apr. 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
Images
Dennis. “Why and How Did the Ancient Egyptians Use Mathematics.” AstronomerGuide, 14 Sept. 2022, https://astronomerguide.com/why-and-how-did-the-ancient-egyptians-use-mathematics/.
Gamwell, Lynn. “Why the History of Maths Is Also the History of Art.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2 Dec. 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/science/alexs-adventures-in-numberland/2015/dec/02/why-the-history-of-maths-is-also-the-history-of-art.
“Top 5 Expressions of Mathematics in Art.” Mathematics, 29 Sept. 2021, https://uwaterloo.ca/math/news/top-5-expressions-mathematics-art.
Hi Susana, I found your conclusion, "art is math, and math is art," to be a beautiful and apt way to tie together all the ideas discussed throughout your blog! It's fascinating to observe how the intersection between math and art leads to the creation of structures and visual aesthetics that we admire and appreciate today. It helped me recognize how often we overlook the beauty of math's functionality and art's ability to infuse life into other fields. The final image you shared of Heller's Transport VI also serves to underscore how math and art intersect with other scientific disciplines!
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