Week 2: Math and Art

The connections between the worlds of math and art are seemingly endless.  Despite most people being brainwashed into believing they need to pick one discipline or the other, the two are really intricately interwoven together as explained by Victoria Vesna in her lecture.  I wasn't aware of how advances in subjects like geometry and physics made real improvements for artists in attaining more realistic and accurate artistic portrayals. Linda Dalrymple Henderson explains in "The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidian Geometry in Modern Art: Conclusion" that Einstein's Theory of Relativity literally changed the way artists paint by giving them a better understanding of how dimensions work.  In the Four Dimensions Audio and Video Performance from Nathan Selikoff, the geometry and shapes playing in the LED screes work in sync with the music to provide a captivating experience.

Geometrics Shapes make Art

The golden ratio can be seen in Leonardo Da Vinci's "The Annunciation".  Compared to a usual painting, Da Vinci's mathematical and scientific knowledge of how to use the golden ratio allowed him to create a piece with many layers and depth, without any item becoming distorted, of the incorrect size, or out of place.  The painting is balanced because of the careful mathematical work put into the size and placement of each object.

Golden Ratio in The Annunciation

One of my largest take aways from the content this week was that mathematicians helped artists before the age of computers.  I never consciously acknowledged how scientific advancements, in what seem like basic mathematics today, were changing the way in which artists work and were significantly improving and altering their style and perspective.  

All lines go to the same "Vanishing Point"

There is a common juxtaposition made with math, art, and science because subjects that on the surface seem to oppose each other really work to help each other.  Advances in the field of mathematics help in the progression of art just as art can open up a broader way of thinking for scientists.

Works Cited

"Four Dimensions - Real-time Audio-visual Performance - Nathan Selikoff." Nathan Selikoff. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. <http://nathanselikoff.com/works/four-dimensions>. 

"Golden Ratio in Art Composition and Design." Phi 1618 The Golden Number. N.p., 04 May 2014. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. <http://www.goldennumber.net/art-composition-design/>. 

Meisner, Gary. The Annunciation. Digital image. The Golden Number. N.p., 4 May 2014. Web. 11 Apr. 2015. 

Rieser, Anne. One Point Perspective. Digital image. Pintrest. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2015. <https://www.pinterest.com/annerieser/one-point-perspective/>.