WEEK 2: Math + Art

Just yesterday a guide at the National Gallery in London was explaining to me and a group of fellow tourists how Turner's painting of Odysseus returning after defeating Polyphemus is a wonder given its use of perspective - the varying layers of space is stunning. This week's readings and lectures were thus great complementary introductions to how math influences art via geometry. Geometry helps artists decide upon how to shape their content; I learnt that painters often view shapes as geometric or organic and place objects like clouds under the latter category (Scott). It also influences how one interprets space in a painting and thus, as suggested by Pereira, can be used as a measure for human consciousness (Pereira). 

Turner, William. "Odysseus Deriding Polyphemus". National Gallery.

The impact of mathematics in shaping is clearly seen in the art of sculpturing. Michelangelo's biography reveals that he was keen on understanding the movements of fluids like blood within the human body and the texture of muscles in order to understand how these features would influence the outward structure of his sculptures of people (Stone). He thus seemed to combine art with both biology and geometry in his work. 


"Michelangelo the Anatomist" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfNzPZKn0fk

The juxtaposition of math, science, and art seems to lie at the perception of shapes and the interpretation of space. However there could be more to explore about the use of math in constructing technology that facilitates greater collaboration between science and art - for example the creation of digital art software and tech that helps render video files with better quality. 


"Paint Tool SAI". Cosmos Digital Art.


Pereira, I. Rice. The Nature of Space. 1956.

Scott, Dan, et al. “Shape in Art.” Draw Paint Academy, 7 May 2021, https://drawpaintacademy.com/shape/.

Stone, Irving. The Agony and the Ecstasy. Cornerstone Digital, 2015.

Frank A. Farris. “With New Technology, Mathematicians Turn Numbers into Art.” The Conversation, 8 July 2019, https://theconversation.com/with-new-technology-mathematicians-turn-numbers-into-art-61254.







Comments

  1. Alec GoodwinApril 10, 2022 at 10:28 PM

    Hey Akhil,

    Loved reading your in depth post! It is amazing how artists have used abstract geometric shapes to create gorgeous sculptures since the 1990s. Even throughout history with lack of computers and technological advancements, Roman and Greek statues were rather advanced for their time. Lastly, the youtube video you posted about Michael Angelo being an anatomist was exceptional! Can't wait to show friends and family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alec GoodwinApril 10, 2022 at 10:29 PM

      This was written by Alec Goodwin^ , not sure why it says unknown.

      Delete

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