Illustrative examples


  1. 1.A Lissajous Curve

  2. 2.The Nonagon

  3. 3.Melancholia

  4. 4.The Black Square

  5. 5.Musical Themes


These examples may serve to suggest s futility in attempting to classify art as “mathematical art”, not to mention defining the term, “art”, in general. A knee-jerk response is to avoid the issue all-together by adopting a standard such as “It’s art if we call it art.” I think that the issue merits more attention than just that, since the answer to this philosophical question guides the artist’s process of art creation. A start on considering the issue can be had by visiting the webpage at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/art-definition/


About the Works in my Gallery

 

The images shown are nearly all (but not all) mathematical in a significant way. Either they are produced from a mathematical launching pad, employ one or more mathematical algorithms during the production process, or illustrate some mathematical concept. The majority combine several of these approaches. The creation process almost always proceeded organically with choice of next step determined at each stage. Further, global effects and transformations predominated.  The mathematical heritage of many of the pieces is thus more property of the artist than of a later audience.


Among  with the videos that accompany the gallery are two which present examples attempting to document the process I used in creating images.

Bob Chaffer

But is it art?

But is it mathematics?

Robert A. Chaffer

Central Michigan University