Week 2: Math and Art Collide

When I first think of art I think of free act of expression and creativity. Vice versa with math where you follow specific directions and eventually have a correct answer and in art there seems to be no correct answer. This photo above off of Nathan Selikoff’s link is a prime example that shows this drawing could not have been completed without the usage of shapes, alignment, and geometry which all include math. There is an “architectural elegance derived from mathematical equations”(Process Prints). After reviewing this weeks resource truly reinforces the idea that the connection of art and science is through computers. As Professor Vesna says even if you love art and say you hate math it is there regardless because mathematics is the foundation of computers and it is present whether you like it or not. Personally, I swayed towards math and science because I felt I could not draw therefore I could not excel in the arts. After doing some research I realized how prominent math is in fact used in arts. First, I loved Fuller’s quote about de-geniusing.

“Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them.” -Fuller

When you think deeply into this quote there is so much truth behind it. It is wild to think that all the experiences we go through impact our thoughts and actions greatly.

One reference where I gained these insights was through Einstein. "The greatest scientists are artists as well," said Albert Einstein.

We all know Einstein as one of the greatest physicist of all time but little did we know that his artistic and musical talents were in fact a huge impact in his "genius-level" creativity. This source discussing Einstein on Creative Thinking: Music and the Intuitive Art of Scientific Imagination introduce the idea that Einstein’s creative thinking artistically was impacted into his knowledge in science and math. Before this week I would have never realized how much of an impact Einstein’s imagination impacted his theories and knowledge that then impacted the world immensely.

Another reference I found examines the good, the bad, and the pretty of math and art. Two professors have shown that through teaching students the collision that math and art create on a daily basis is make all the difference. It is a stereotype that math is scary and hard which is true at times but that art is an easy and fun thing to do. After these professors discussed the framework of mathematics in art it is recognized the depth and importance that math has in art.

Da Vinci in Mona Lisa is the piece of art helped me understand the influence of mathematics in art and science this week. Someone walking up to this piece of work in the exhibit with no background knowledge would not recognize the golden ratio and divine proportions taking place in this painting. The Golden Section is described in lecture this week that helps explain the many dimensions and equilibrium throughout this extraordinary painting. 

Although there are very few straight lines in the Mona Lisa the position and details of where her head and neck and hands are placed on the canvas are elements that align with the dimensions of the painting and have to do with the golden ratios. Overall, in all these examples from this week it seems surely irrelevant to include mathematics with the genius artwork that is displayed although in the end mathematics is clearly the foundation for many successful pieces of art and not only the finishing product but the genius mind behind the artistic ability stems from the knowledge and background information one artist uses from math and science.

Works cited:

"Divine Proportion/Golden Ratio in the Art of Da Vinci." Phi 1618 The Golden Number.

7 July 2014. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. <http://www.goldennumber.net/leonardo-da-vinci-golden-ratio-art/>.

"Einstein On Creative Thinking: Music and the Intuitive Art of Scientific

imagination."Psychology Today. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. <https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/imagine/201003/einstein-creative-thinking-music-and-the-intuitive-art-scientific-imagination>.

"Golden Ratio- The Perfect Face & Change the Sex of People." YouTube. YouTube.Web.

Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO3o9drC1mQ>.

"Math and Art: The Good, the Bad, and the Pretty." Math and Art: The Good, the Bad,

and the Pretty. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. <http://www.maa.org/meetings/calendar-events/math-and-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-pretty>.

"Process Prints - Print - Nathan Selikoff." Nathan Selikoff. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.

<http://nathanselikoff.com/works/process-prints>.