Mathematical Sculptures

  I was trying to find information on the mathematics used by sculptors and instead of finding that, I found sculptures based on mathematics.   I didn't know how many artists use mathematics to create their art or sculptures.

In today's world, mathematics is an important component in both animation and digital graphics.  In addition, certain artists are using mathematics to create sculptures.

Ricardo Zalaya Baez wrote a proposal for classifying mathematical sculptures based on the type of materials and mathematical properties.  He divides the art into geometrical sculpture, sculpture with concepts of calculus, sculptures with algebraic concepts, topological sculptures and sculptures with different mathematical concepts.

Through out the paper, he includes photographs of examples of each type of mathematical sculptures and their creators.  Here are some who were chosen.

Helaman Ferguson who has a doctorate in mathematics but is an artist who uses mathematics to create his sculptures.   One of his creations is Umbilic Torus SC is created using a computer program designed to direct a robot to care 144 different sandstone pieces which were later cast in bronze.   Many of his other sculptures are variations on Torus.

Another artist is George Hart who creates geometric based sculptures.  He has created a 3 dimensional print of the famous Sierpinski triangle.  He is also known for his constructive geometric forms created from patterns and relationships.

Zachery Abel is a bit different in that he creates his works from everyday objects such as paperclips and those large clips you use with thick packets of paper.  Zachery is a lecturer in mathematics for computer science at MIT. He does hold a doctorate in mathematics. If you check out his website, you can click on pictures of his works where he explains how he made the sculpture and the mathematical idea behind it.

Check out Bathsheba Grossman, an artist who uses computer programs to crate 3 dimensional printed steel.  She uses pure math to create things like a Klein bottle opener, a gyroid, A Borromean rings Seifert Surface, etc.  These sculptures are fantastic and fascinating.

If you read the paper by Baez, you can discover so many more sculptures who have produced mathematically based sculptures since the 1950's although there are some works from the early 1910's which could be classified in this group.

I am impressed with the huge number of artists out there who produced mathematically based sculptures out of so many different materials.  I could see having students research various artists, their sculptures and contribute a page or two to a book created by the whole class on mathematical sculptures.

Let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.