Week 2 Blog

Mathematics is known to be very numerical and that’s it. Many don’t see the fourth spectrum of it as the readings had revealed. The reading stated that the fourth dimension also supported bold experimentation by those painters who did not reject visual experience. This made me think a little more of about what math truly is. Math, combined with art is known to be a new phenomenon many don’t consider. The entire mathematical concept if we think about it, is art. The numbers in which we use and the way we have made rules to make the numbers mean something and have correct and incorrect answers is something amazing as well. The article also talks about cubists and their 3D sculptures and how there is geometrical mathematics involved in that.

(OT 2: Comparison of Major Two-Dimensional Geometries. Smith, The Nature of Mathematics, p. 501)

A famous engraver Albrecht Durer made many references in mathematics in his work of Melencolia I. He had made a compass to reflect geometry, and had his measurements be indicated by scales and hourglass. This also shows that the two fields of art and math are very historic and have been used during the ancient times. It also shows proof that mathematics and art have had a connection together since even then to produce great works of art. If we start with something small and never expand on it then we won't be able to learn more more from it. For example, if we just used math to add and subtract numbers then we would still be using that as only that. However, because now we have other formulas and shapes and sizes incorporated in math we slowly have been able to see the correlation between math and art. Geometry is known to have shapes and then we incorporate formulas to them. This is the same mechanism famous artists used to use, as well as Durer.

(Mathematics in art: Albert Durer's copper plate engraving Melencolia I, 1514)

Egyptians also used to incorporate mathematics in art. Actually, they have been known to still do this. Many of their ancient art work that is still present in Egypt today has been able to reflect this. Other middle eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, and Turkey also have such great architecture that has incorporated mathematics in it as well. 

(Egyptian architectural math)

It’s amazing that such different fields of art and science can come together and produce such great work. The field of mathematics is known to be very concrete and not have my different views to it. However on the contrary, the field of art is very flexible and is known to have many dimensions to it. When we put the two together we are able to form a fourth dimension, which allows for a more in depth and new aspect of looking at the two.

References:

Abbott, Edwin. “Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions.” N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <https://cole.uconline.edu/content>.

Cotter, Holland. "The Renaissance followed him North, Albert Durer: Master Drawings, Watercolors, and

Prints". Ney York Times. 21 March.2013. 1-5. Print. 

Henderson, Linda. “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion.” MIT Press. 17.3 (1984): 205-10. Print.

Paul Calter. "Early Twentieth Century, Geometric Art", Dartmouth College. Web. 1998. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Math + Art.” Lecture 2.