Kaz Maslanka

Artist / Engineer / mathematical poet
San Diego, California

"As an artist, my interest in correlating experience through language spawned my desire to study mathematics and physics. I am currently pursuing my interest in using mathematics as a language for art. I serve the concept of polyaesthetics and mathematical poetry by viewing mathematical equations and the variables within the equations as capable of providing the structure for metaphors. This freedom transforms equations for uses other than scientific by freeing equations from the boundaries of denotation and opens up a new world in the realms of connotation. Mixing poetics in the structure of mathematic equations enables me to blend the aesthetics of poetry, science and mathematics. With phrases embedded in the mathematic equations, one can construct relationships between the phrases that can bring a linguistic richness to subjects that normally not use mathematics as a language, e.g. cultural, spiritual, etc."

Whispers
Whispers
12 x 12
digital print on paper
2009

This work is titled “Whispers “and is an example of what I call a "Proportional Poem". All proportional poems are in the form of "a is to b" as "d is to e". In addition, one of the variables is chosen to be solved and the poem is displayed as a result. The visual images within this polyaesthetic work serve synergistically in the conflation of the mathematical and visual aesthetic experience.

Salvation
Salvation
11 x 14
Digital print on paper
2009

This work is titled Salvation and is an example of what I call a "Proportional Poem". All proportional poems are in the form of "a is to b" as "d is to e". In addition, one of the variables is chosen to be solved and the poem is displayed as a result. The visual images within this polyaesthetic work serve synergistically in the conflation of the mathematical and visual aesthetic experience.
The two houses you see in the image are bath houses just outside the temple bridge at Songgwangsa temple in Korea. These bath houses are used to bathe the ghosts of our ancestors as a requirement before they are allowed into the temple.