Week 2: Mathematics and Art

Generative art from the number π, personal project

Art and mathematics are inherently intertwined, specifically mathematics within art (art within mathematics is somewhat more abstract). In this week’s lecture Dr. Vesna discussed the first formalizations of math in art from the origins of zero, perspective, and the golden ratio. Before these formalizations, artists did not have rules to help visualize perspective, which often resulted in flat-looking images. See “The Bishop of Assisi Giving a Palm to Saint Clare,” ca. 1360, about 50 years before Brunelleschi made the vanishing point rule in 1413.

Pictured is the art of one of my favorite digital artists, Mike Winkelmann, better known by his online handle “Beeple.” He creates art across a variety of media, but the art that sticks out the most is the work he does in Cinema 4D (C4D), a 3D modeling program, creating a new piece every day. To me, 3D modeling is the epitome of the intermixing of art and mathematics. Programs like C4D are created by mathematicians, with the rules of light and perspective preprogrammed so artists can create their own worlds following natural laws of physics. If Winkelmann had to mathematically work out perspective for each image he creates, I’m sure he wouldn’t be able to produce one per day as he does now.

Art by Mike Winkelmann (Beeple), done in Cinema 4D

However, even though art and mathematics are not mutually exclusive, they often are treated as such. This could be because even though math plays a large role in art, art does not play a large role in math.

"The Bishop of Assisi Giving a Palm to Saint Clare"

"F I B O N A C C I #3" - VFXFREEK

References:

"Filippo Brunelleschi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Apr. 2017. Web.

"The Bishop of Assisi Handing a Palm to Saint Clare | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. N.p., n.d. Web.

Abbott, Edwin Abbott. "Flatland." Flatland, by E. A. Abbott, 1884. N.p., n.d. Web. 

Vesna, Victoria. "Mathematics | Perspective | Time | Space." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Apr. 2012. Web.

Winkelmann, Mike. "Beeple Everydays." Beeple - the Work of Mike Winkelmann. N.p., n.d. Web.
Weber, Ryan. Generative art from the number π. Digital image. N.p., 15 Feb. 2016. Web.
Winkelmann, Mike. Beeple's Everydays. Digital image. Instagram. N.p., n.d. Web.
VFXFREEK. F I B O N A C C I #3. Digital image. Facebook. N.p., 13 Apr. 2017. Web.