Unit Two: Math + Art

Through this weeks readings I have realized what a critical part math plays in art. I have seen the image of image of the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, but I had not assigned any meaning to it until learning about his admiration of the architect Vitruvius's definition of the perfect dimensions of the human form and proportions of architecture. This inspired him to draw the ideal man as Vitruvian saw him, and his drawing has become somewhat of a symbol for the combination of art, math and science. This chain of inspiration led to the works Piet Mondrian, who believed that very basic shapes, lines, and primary colors could be used to represent the world around us. His notion that any shape could be formed with a combination of simpler shapes was revolutionary during the early 20th century. Yet another man inspired by the works of Vitruvius was architect Charles Edouard Jeanneret, who used his principles and proportions of classical architecture in new ways and is now considered one of the pioneers of modern architecture. 

One of Piet Mondrian's paintings using
simple shapes and primary colors

From a personal point of interest of the combination of art and math, since I was a child I have found origami to be a strange form of art. When I was younger it frustrated me because I felt like there was little room for creativity in it. You could only fold the paper the way you were told, you could not invent your own shapes. It seemed the only variance between one creation and the next was the color of the paper. After looking at Robert J. Lang's art, I realize that there still are more ways to be creative with folding. Lang uses a computer program to calculate where to fold his creations so they can be much more complex than what he could create on his own. He is eager to share this knowledge with anyone who visits his website, as he has posted countless diagrams of his crease patterns and articles about his methods. Like many creators who have connected art and science in the past, he wants to share his insight and help others build off of his discoveries. From what I can deduce from my limited knowledge about the interactions of the two cultures, I would say that science and math have a greater influence on art than art has math and science, but the two are very important to each other. 

One of Lang's works, I figured a bear was a fitting example.

Sources:
"American Mathematical Society." AMS, American Mathematical Society, www.ams.org/mathimagery/thumbnails.php?album=16.

“Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow, 1930.” Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow, 1930 by Piet Mondrian, Www.Piet-Mondrian.org, www.piet-mondrian.org/composition-ii-in-red-blue-and-yellow.jsp.

Lang, Robert J. “Robert J. Lang Origami.” Robert J. Lang Origami, 2004, www.langorigami.com/frontpage.

Sorene, Paul. “The Naked Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, AKA Le Corbusier: A Life In Photos.”Flashbak, ALUM MEDIA LTD, 21 May 2015, flashbak.com/the-naked-charles-edouard-jeanneret-aka-le-corbusier-a-life-in-photos-34480/.

TEDEducation. “Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man of Math - James Earle.” YouTube, YouTube, 11 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMsaFP3kgqQ.