Sunday, April 12, 2015

Math and Art - Week 2


When it comes to math and how it influenced science and art it becomes very hard to compare math with art. Math has rules you must follow in order to get to your ultimate goal of solving the problem. This is not the case for art. Art is a free flowing expression of your mind, with no rules to follow. You can do whatever you want. Leonardo da Vinci once said “art lives from constraints “ (1), this means that art thrives on people putting restrictions on it, art goes past those limitations. But when you look at math and art in a deeper way you can see that there is a relation between the two. April according to the American Mathematical Society happens to be Mathematics Awareness Month and their focus this year’s theme is Mathematics and Art. The relation of art and mathematics has to do with one of the greatest artist and engineer the world has ever known. Leonard da Vinci was a man the exuded confidence and wisdom as seen in Figure One Ams.com states, “some individuals known as artists have needed or use mathematical thinking to carry out their artistic vision . . . such an artist was Leonardo da Vinci” (2). Da Vinci’s most famous piece of art is the Mona Lisa as seen in Figure Two, it is a painting that is described as art and nothing more or less. This cannot be said for other pieces of Da Vinci’s work. Take Figure Three for example, it is Da Vinci’s rendition of a helicopter. This is a perfect example of how art and mathematics can come together. The juxtaposition is clear. Math and art both have to follow some rules but they also have a free flowing element to them. Even math where you have to follow rules allows its self to have a bit of freethinking in it. “Essentially, if art isn't washing away the dust accumulating on your soul, it might be cleaning up your brain instead.” (3)


Figure One 


Figure Two 
Figure Three 


Bibliography (Pictures – In Order of Appearance)
1.     http://hypescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/vida-e-obra-de-leonardo-da-vinci-6.jpg
2.     http://webneel.com/leonardo-da-vinci-paintings-drawings 
3.     http://www.buzzle.com/images/public-domain/flying-helicopter.jpg

Bibliography (Quotes – In Order of Appearance)
1.     http://www.art-quotes.com/auth_search.php?authid=243#.VSr5i1z4tFI
2.     http://www.history.com/topics/leonardo-da-vinci
3.     http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/08/how-art-changes-your-brain_n_5567050.html











2 comments:

  1. Hi Blake,

    I really enjoyed reading your post. It was organized and very honest. I myself used the Mona Lisa to depict a relationship between mathematics and art. I see how mathematics can influence art, but can we say the same about art influencing mathematics? How so?

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  2. Hey Blake,

    I agree with most of your post, however in figure 2 (Mona Lisa) I am wondering if it is all art like you have stated. If my art history serves me correct, I remember that this painting appears to be looking at you from all angles in the room. Simple graphs that we grow up seeing become inadequate and therefore we need a three dimensional space to truly appreciate this phenomena. So maybe that is an answer to Rachel's question as well.

    Trent

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