Unit 2: Math + Art

Picture of Filippo Brunelleschi - first person
to be credited for liner perspective

Over the years, mathematics has impacted the usage of art and how others perceived it as well. Around the beginning of the twentieth century, the fourth dimension in art started to become popular, and to many individuals it was a major concern because of its abstractness. This fourth dimension is referring to the usage of numbers, signs, symbols, colors, and shapes. However, this type of art gradually started to become more accepted and people started to appreciate its revolutionary aim as it showed surreal, idealistic, and utopian views, and thus it was eventually considered a new “language”. Some references to these insights include Brunelleschi, who was the first person to be credited for linear perspective and to introduce what a single vanishing point was. Not only did mathematics influence art, but it also influenced science as well. For instance, al-Haytham was the first to provide a correct explanation of vision and was therefore considered to be the founder of the modern scientific method. Furthermore, the Vitruvian Man gave ideals for human proportions as well as proportions for architecture.

One of Piet Mondrian's works shows his abstract usage of lines,
shapes, and color 

The artist that really stood out to me was Piet Mondrian, who utilized horizontal lines and believed that math and simple geometric shapes, primarily colors could be used to express reality, nature and logic from a different point of view. In the first decade of the twentieth century, he became thoroughly impressed through the works of Paul Cezanne and Pablo Picasso as they both used unrecognizable forms to create a completely abstract art. These methods of art can also be recognized in the novel, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, by Edwin A. Abbott. In the novel, he relates the variety of shapes to how real life in the world is. For instance, he explains how a straight line is parallel to a woman, a triangle is related to a low-class man, and how a circle is the highest nobility. From his beliefs, it is interesting to see the connection between geometry, reality, and art.

Through technological advancements, math, science, and art can be merged into one

The juxtaposition of mathematics, art and science is that by using art, artists are better able to freely express themselves; math provides a sense of empty space, just as how the number zero does, and allows artists to openly convey surrealistic, utopian views. Also, with growing technologies such as computers, it provides the capacity to combine these three concepts as one.

Sources:

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

Henderson, Linda Dalrymple. “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion.” Leonardo. 17.3 (1984): 205-210. Print.

“Piet Mondrian and His Paintings.” Piet Mondrian: 120 Famous Paintings Analysis,Complete Artworks & Bio, www.piet-mondrian.org/.

”Platonic Realms Entryway.” Platonic Realms Entryway. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.mathacademy.com/>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 9 April 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg&feature=player_embedded>