The Astronomer (1668) by Johannes VermeerOriginal Source: Agence photographique de la Réunion des musées nationaux-Grand Palais
To some, Art and Science might seem like polar opposite pursuits, one concerned with created things and the other looking at real life. But, in fact, there's quite a crossover. Both seek a kind of truth, after all.
Many famous figures from the past were both artists and scientists, and the disciplines often influenced each other. Scroll on to discover eight ways that the science of mathematics changed the arts...
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1. Pythagoras & Music
Did you know that Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras invented music theory? Some scholars debate his actual contributions, but there's no denying the impact his discoveries had on music.
You probably remember Pythagoras from geometry class, but you may not have known that he is credited as the first person to discover that the pitch of a musical note depends on the speed of its vibrations.
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This allowed him to express notes using numbers – a system we still use today! If you have a string vibrating 440 times per second, you have the note 'A'. If you reduce the length by half, it will vibrate twice as fast, giving you an A one octave higher.
Fractal (2007) by Huang Lan-YaFubon Art Foundation
2. Fractals
French mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot, who coined the term “fractal” in the 1960s, has defined it as “a shape made of parts similar to the whole in some way.” This means that if you keep zooming in to a fractal pattern, it'll always look the same.
These shapes occur in nature, appearing in lightning, coastlines, crystals, and much more. But they can also be generated and expressed mathematically, which is tangible evidence of the beauty of numbers.
With some fractals, you could zoom in forever and always see the same recursive pattern. Watch the mind-bending video below to see artist John Edmark’s ‘Bloom’ kinetic sculptures and see if you can spot any fractals!
Bloom's kinetic sculptures (2015-02-10) by John EdmarkSinaloa Science Center
Pronk Still Life with Holbein Bowl, Nautilus Cup, Glass Goblet and Fruit Dish (1678) by Willem KalfSMK - Statens Museum for Kunst
3. Golden Ratio
Often cited as one of the most visually pleasing proportions, the golden ratio appears in art, nature, music, and, of course, mathematics.
The golden ratio can be expressed in a huge variety of ways. For example, it can be represented as a formula, an irrational number, or a quadratic equation. Whether or not artists intentionally used the ratio in the past, it has since become a meeting point of numbers and art.
The Bedroom (October 1888) by Vincent van GoghVan Gogh Museum
4. Perspective
How is Van Gogh’s bedroom connected to mathematics? It’s all about perspective. This painting is a perfect example of one point perspective, in which there is only one vanishing point. See if you can spot it!
Did you pick the area near the window? If you follow all the lines in the room, you'll see objects decrease in size, all drawing the eye to a single point at the farthest end.
Two polyhedrons (1581 - 1584) by Egidius LobenigkGreen Vault, Dresden State Art Museums
5. Geometry
Geometry is perhaps the branch of mathematics most intertwined with the tree of art. Art seems almost impossible without the study of shapes, space, lines, dimensions, proportions, and ratios.
Our understanding of spatial dimensions ushered in artwork of increasing complexity. Cubes, spheres, cones, polyhedrons, and almost any shape imaginable, can be expressed mathematically.
Holland Festival Proms: Electro Symphonic Orchestra (2018-06-23) by Colin BendersHolland Festival
6. Electronic Music
Today, electronic music might conjure raves and glowsticks, but its history is much longer than you might think. As long as people have been harnessing electricity, we’ve been using it to make music.
As early as the 1700s, musicians and inventors were tinkering with electric instruments. Czech scientist and theologian Prokop Diviš invented one of the first such devices, the Denis d’or, a keyboard instrument which could reportedly mimic other instruments!
As electrical engineering grew out of its infancy, so did electronic music. Synthesizers were invented in the next century and continue to evolve almost 150 years later. Without math, engineers would be forced to invent with trial and error!
ERA 1103 UNIVAC 2 Calculating Machine (1955-09-01)NASA
7. Digital Media
The 20th century saw an exponential rise in technology, with the advent of radio, TV, and much more, but a simple system of 1s and 0s would revolutionize art and change human history forever.
The development of the computer relies on binary code, a system of numbers which electronics can understand. With only two possible digits – 1 and 0 – an electronic device can represent this system by being in one of two possible states: on or off.
A complex network of these components is able to perform calculations, display information, and even reproduce art. Digital audio, video, and photos are, at their very core, simply 1s or 0s. Watch the video below to see modern digital media in action.
(Exhibition video) test pattern [n 8]Asia Culture Center (ACC)
Painting from a 3D scan in virtual reality by Jonathan Yeo
8. 3D Modeling
Computers grew in complexity and, within relatively recent memory, they have allowed artists to create things like 3D models, animation, video games, virtual reality, and augmented reality.
If you look closely, the next major advancement in art might have math behind it. Click here to see Bernini’s bust of Louis XIV in 3D, or check out Breaking In: Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for more.
