Patterns and Symmetry

In this lecture we were introduced to the relation of geometry and art with the inclusion of patterns and symmetry. One of the exercises was to find the symmetry in all the capital letters of the alphabet. Once again, im not sure what relevance this has in expanding our knowledge of maths and art. Symmetry is a concept we have played around with our entire lives. I did not see why we would have to spend 15 minutes sifting through which letters were symmetrical or not. Obviously some were and some weren't. We explored a whole range of different works of art that revolved around the simple idea of symmetry. For example, the Kaleidoscope. Which works on the reflection of mirrors inside a tube to create amazing and randomized images of color. Jenna actually went home and made herself one using an empty toilet roll and shards of a broken CD case to make a really amazing prototype. We also see these patterns a lot in our everyday lives that we do not realize, whether it be the tiling on the floor of the bathroom or Maori symbols.

Another task was for me to go out and investigate a few modern artists and try and point out the mathematics embedded in their work.
For example here in Yaacov Aga's artwork we can see what resembles folded paper of some kind (in my eyes) with colors over the top of the folds in the surface. Usually, we see colors and shading on sides/surfaces which give an object its 3d appearance, however Yaacov Aga's work has the colors and patterns placed over the tiles in a way that contradicts the 3d nature of the pictures. This is a clear sign that mathematics has been used to have an impact on the audience.

Another artists I investigated was Ellsworth Kelly, in google images I found a piece of art that resembled an exercise that we did in programming not too long ago where we had to randomize a grid of colored squared exactly how she has done on this canvas. She has used randomization as a concept in this artwork. And randomization is an extremely important factor in the world of mathematics. To me it is amazing to see how something with complete chaos and randomness can have such an appealing look to it.

For the last task I thought it would be a neat idea to tessellate hexagons much like the beehive (yet another object of art and mathematics). It would start with small hexagons all multicolored, which would tessellate together to make a bigger hexagon etc. In other words, the overall picture looks extremely simple like a beehive but as you look closer you realize the true complexity of the design.