This project explores the highly mathematical world of Islamic geometric patterns.

Islamic design is one of the world's great artistic traditions, but not much is known about the methods used by artisans in centuries past to construct them. One of the first attempts to formalize the geometry behind Islamic patterns was E.H. Hankin's seminal 1908 paper "Polygons in Contact", which remains a key technique today. Our project combines the approach described by Hankin with transformations of designs found at real-world historical sites.

Two Mathematicians avoids traditional ornamentation and colouring. It seeks to find beauty in the geometry of the patterns themselves, embellishing only with subtle combinations of basic line and dot shapes. Its two archetypes contrast the precision and order found in Islamic patterns with the informality of a rough draft. In that, it reflects the personalities of its creators, alternating between the obsessive need for order and exactness, and the embrace of just winging it.

Controls:
- Zoom in or out with scroll wheel, or arrow up/down. 
- Press 'i' to see the underlying structure.

Two Mathematicians

A photon is a particle representing a quantum of light. Because it travels at the speed-of-light, time and space as we understand it do not exist for this elementary particle. The Big Bang was less than an instant ago for the photon and yet it has already traversed the cosmos. Time and space to it is what? It's hard to say. The word non-dual comes to mind.

Some components in Photon’s Dream look like images from an electron microscope. Other parts have a more cosmic or planetary vista. Juxtaposing both creates tension and intrigue where the boundary between fine texture and grand architecture becomes blurred.

The expression ‘One in all: all in one’ is somehow embodied in the wavefield primitives used to make this art. Art that aspires to create both holistic simplicity and the mystery of deep complexity. The quasicrystal and hyperbolic geometry employed here are subjects to the artist that express what is beyond macro and micro, internal and external and ultimately self and other.

Photon's Dream

Liquid Ruminations is an algorithm inspired by the contemplative effect of moving water.

Unique invocations of this algorithm consist of any number of several core components including waves that rise and fall, a flow field powered mist, and droplet shapes arranged in a dancing field that are distorted in a rhythmic, sometimes stormy animation.

These effects are combined and brought to life with mathematical wave functions in order to create movement that is ideally conducive to a meditative state. Viewers are encouraged to take the opportunity to reflect on precious things that we tend to take for granted, primarily easy access to clean water.

The outputs of this algorithm are interactive:

You may toggle a "Liquify" mode on and off by double-clicking the invocations.

Spacebar pauses the animation.

's' key saves a local screenshot.

'r' key reloads the piece.

Please note: This project is very CPU intensive and performs best at moderate resolutions on modern desktop devices. Chrome will provide the best experience. Full screen recommended.

Primary and secondary sales proceeds from this project will be donated to Water.org - an important organization with the critical mission of providing affordable access to safe water to people around the globe.

Liquid Ruminations

Quilted landscapes in homage to the desert. 51% of the minting sales proceeds from Patchwork Saguaros will be donated to the Nancy Rockland-Miller Scholarship fund, held by The Kent State University Foundation. To learn more, please check out my introduction blog post for the project: https://bit.ly/3tGPVd3

Patchwork Saguaros

The final chapter in the Primitive Trilogy. The shapes kept evolving, and out of the chaotic turmoil some complex patterns started to emerge.
The same basic geometric primitives are randomly scattered in 3D space, but follow their movement for a while and some beauty will emerge from the chaos. 
These kinetic sculptures can be re-generated from different angles by interacting with a mouse, while exposing the underlying basic primitives.
● mouse drag - render different view
● b - boost
● p - play/pause
● r - reset view

Art Blocks Presents

Two Mathematicians #5

BY MA

More in Art Blocks Presents

Photon's Dream

Harvey Rayner | patterndotco

Liquid Ruminations

Eliya Stein

Patchwork Saguaros

Jake Rockland

PrimiEnd

wuwa

Art

Company

Learn