Ryan M. Blog 2

 Mathematics and Art

The organization of the universe is a beautiful thing. From atomic structures to the nuances of genetic coding, there are many facets of the universe that are appealing in an artistic manner. Yet without math we would be unable to see this beauty that surrounds us. Math allows us to view and achieve great works in a way that pushes for ever greater accomplishments. The two fields in which I believe math and the arts work together most closely are music and architecture. Without math being applied to music we would be unable to create complicated pieces that involve many different instruments, vocals, and nowadays electronics. Furthermore there are mathematical formulas involved in the actual composition of many of the greatest musical creations in history. The Einstein's and other accomplished mathematicians bring a sense of beauty to their work that makes them artists in their own right.



https://techstartups.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Albert-Einstein.jpg

During this week's courses I learned a great deal about how mathematics has enabled artists to create visuals and also how mathematical formulas such as the Fibonacci sequence and golden ratio can be beautifully expressed. A work of art that has always amazed me is the Duomo Di Santa Maria Del Fiore in Florence, Italy.  A dome of that size had been impossible to create until a goldsmith performed the mathematical equations necessary for proper buttressing for support.  This was a revolutionary artistic and mathematical feat that utterly changed European architecture. It also gave the West insight into what they were truly capable of when it came to designing future works of architectural art. 




https://www.thegeographicalcure.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/img_61537ae77fb1b.


Mathematics, art, and science are and always will be inexorably tied to one another due to the beauty and passion involved in these fields. In art, math can be incredibly useful for creating ratios and visual cues that the human eye instinctively finds pleasing. One of the most interesting combinations of the two would be the Golden Ratio.  This mathematical ratio can be found in many natural structures due to the strength that can be gained from these proportions.  Furthermore this ratio is beautiful when expressed due to the spiral pattern that occurs when it is visualized. 

For more information on the Golden Ratio





Sources:
     

Abbott, E. A. (2022). Flatland: A romance of many dimensions. Princeton University Press.

Burk, P. (2011). Music and computers. Music and Computers. Retrieved April 6, 2022, from http://musicandcomputersbook.com/

Wertheim, M. (2006). Things That Think. The Institute for Figuring // Where the wild things are. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://www.theiff.org/publications/cab21-gessler.html

Gruppometa. (n.d.). The cathedral of santa maria del fiore: The opera del duomo. OPA Anniversario Cupola. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://duomo.firenze.it/en/discover/cathedral

Arthink. (2003). Sonia Landy Sheridan - Home Page. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from http://www.sonart.org/


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