Unit 2 - Math + Art

 

The Virtuvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci

I can't avoid mathematics. In engineering, I have witnessed the beauty of math through derivations of equations relating to the scientific theories explaining the world; I never really thought about math's influence on the arts though. I created works of art using math before. For example, in CS131, Programming Languages, I had to use OCaml, a functional programming language, to write an ML program to evaluate equations and create fun images from expressions (see Figure 1). But the scope of math's influence on the arts runs deeper than I could imagine. Originally, I thought some concepts like perspective didn't involve math but some artists actually calculated the correct proportions as explained in Professor Vesna's lecture and in Lynda Henderson's “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art”.

 Figure 1. CS131 HW3 OCaml Expression Images by Calvin Cam

The golden ratio fascinates me. In EE103, Applied Numerical Computing, I first learned about the golden ratio as phi, a supposedly beautiful number that solves 1/x = x/(1-x). I didn't realize the beauty until I witnessed the Parthenon. It's a monument built in Athens by the ancient Greeks from 447 to 438 BC. The Parthenon was constructed using few parallel lines to make it appear more visually pleasing. It uses golden rectangles with a golden spiral to overlay the entire face (see Figure 2). The Parthenon had more interesting uses of the golden ratio in architecture like the columns, beams, and etc. Although the golden ratio wasn't used intentionally, the ratio still represent the natural proportions and influence on nature and the arts. This is a strong factor in saying that the golden ratio influences what we perceive as aesthetically pleasing. One number created this magnificent artwork and influenced other artworks to follow this style of proportions.

 

Figure 2. The Parthenon and Phi, the Golden Ratio by Gary Meisner.

I learned this week that art can be more than one would see at first glance. In Edwin Abbott's “Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions”, a dimensional world can be created with geometry. In art, a world can be created using many tools like zero, proportion, and the golden ratio. There is strong evidence to support that mathematics is an essential part of the arts and sciences. Without math, science would be unproven and art would not have another dimension to it. So at the next glance of an artwork, one should consider these factors deeply... and then derive the mathematical equations that created this new world!


Yours truly,
Calvin Cam



Works Cited
Abbott, Edwin. “Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions.” N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <https://cole.uconline.edu/content>.

Henderson, Lynda. “The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art.” N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <https://cole.uconline.edu/content>.

Meisner, Gary. “The Parthenon and Phi, the Golden Ratio.” 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Oct. 2013. goldennumber.net <http://www.goldennumber.net/parthenon-phi-golden-ratio/>.

PBS. “Secrets of the Parthenon.” PBS.org. Web. 12 Oct. 2013. <http://video.pbs.org/video/980040228/>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 9 April 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmq5B1LKDg&feature=player_embedded>.