Mathematical art: Making the ordinary chaotic
Kristen DePalma
Issue date: 10/19/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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With a brilliant mind, one can understand complex problems and derive solutions while curiosity will lead one to look past the answers and yearn to know and prove more.
Bill Ralph is a mathematics professor at Brock University, but he has much more to teach to the world than algebra problems.
Somewhere along the way, Ralph became fascinated by the algorithms that he was teaching in class and decided to experiment. The results were some of the most unique artwork to come out of mathematical formulas.
Beginning with early mathematical models, Ralph transformed simple images into extremely complicated and chaotic visuals. Although they may appear to be paintings, Ralph's artworks are a unique blend of textures and shapes which are generated from algorithms, before being released as Giclee prints. The pieces take a great deal of creativity and plenty of experimentation before completion.
"The process is much like creating a sculpture from a pile of leaves by blowing on them," said Ralph. "Each piece is like a little window into an exotic mathematical universe that has never been seen before."
Viewing one of Ralph's works is ultimately like seeing into the unification of two generally separate worlds: mathematics and fine art. Even though his pieces are based on rather simple math rules, they carry an increasing complexity and spontaneity which would be almost impossible to duplicate.
"As a teacher and mathematician, I hope that people can see the enormous complexity and unity that is inherent within the mathematical objects these images are built around," said Ralph. "My pieces ... parallel my philosophical fascination with the idea that much, if not all, of the complexity of the universe around us is the manifestation of a fairly simple set of rules of interaction."
Ralph has always been interested in the visual process; several years ago, he designed a software program called Journey Through Calculus, which helped students to understand calculus through visual text. His mathematically generated artworks will no doubt open students' eyes to the capabilities of mathematics, as well as fine arts.
"I think that my work shows my students the universal applicability of mathematical methods, even to areas as unusual and wonderful as fine art," said Ralph. "You can't see this type of work anywhere else; I think that's really exciting."
