Sunday, April 12, 2015

Week 2: Math and Art

Math and art are constantly being juxtaposed, but I am used to it as more of a contrast than a comparison. From this week’s lecture, I learned that mathematics actually has a lot of influence of art and its history. Lamb mentions in an article that, “Mathematics in general is the study of patterns, structures, relationships, the same ways of thinking and looking for patterns can be applied to formal artwork.” It is through mathematics that images such as drawings become more realistic.  
                                          
Perspective plays a big role in art and how we perceive reality. In the image, all the rectangles are the same size, but as you can see, the ones near the edges look like parallelograms versus rectangles. There is one vanishing point where all these parallel lines meet up.

http://www.brianlemay.com/Pages/animationschool/layout/perspective/assignment01intro.html

I did some research on the golden ratio, and found it amazing how there is a derivation for this. Usually I think of derivations for equations in strictly math or science, but here, there is this golden ratio. It’s amazing that the Great Pyramid of Giza basically mimics or the great ratio mimics the architectural aspect of the pyramid. A simple number can create something as majestic and amazing as the famous pyramid.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v464/n7287/fig_tab/464362a_F1.html

Art and math, although usually are not compared to one another, actually work well with each other to create beautiful pieces. Through the usage of mathematics, art becomes more realistic and patterned. Mathematics helps explain the “unexplainable” that we sometimes see in images such as different perspectives and what not.

https://www.dartmouth.edu/~matc/math5.geometry/unit14/unit14.html


Works Cited

"Geometry in Art & Architecture Unit 2." Geometry in Art & Architecture Unit 2. Web.

Lamb, Evelyn. "Bridging the Gap Between Math and Art [Slide Show]." Scientific American Global RSS. 23 Aug. 2012. Web.


"Phi, Pi and the Great Pyramid of Egypt at Giza - Phi 1.618: The Golden Number." Phi 1618 The Golden Number. 18 Aug. 2012. Web. 

 "Vanishing Point." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
  
Vesna, Victoria. “Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 9 April 2012. Web. 

2 comments:

  1. Hi Vivian,

    I really liked your post and what you had to say about the contrast between art and math. I think that many of us started out this way, and it seems like you had a similar learning experience to me. I liked the word that you used, "unexplainable," because I feel like I learned how to explain some of the beauty I see in art and nature this week. I also enjoyed your explanation of the Golden Ratio and how it is seen as almost universally appealing through history. Thanks for you post!

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  2. I agree that math and art are not usually compared to each other, but they complement each other so well. Art can explain math concepts like perspective and ratios. Math concepts can explain why certain art works seem realistic or are more pleasing. I think it's amazing how seamlessly they go together. We have to really stop and think to see the connection.

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