Francesco De Comite

Assistant Professor of Computer Science
University of Sciences and Technology of Lille (France),European Society for Mathematics and Art
Lille, France

Ray-tracing softwares can help you visualize mathematical objects and concepts. The more you become fluent in their language, the more sophisticated objects you can create.
The next step is then to raise those objects to the third dimension, using modeller and 3D-printers.
Softwares are my tools, like sculptors have hammers, chisels and gouges.

The world in a nutshell
The world in a nutshell
40cmx40cm
Digital print
2010

Inversion of a Doyle Spiral. There is still another sphere, wrapping all of the others, and tangent to the six border spheres. Can you guess its color ?

Inside the Riemann Sphere
Inside the Riemann Sphere
40cmx40cm
Digital print
2010

A succession of little steps : define a Doyle spiral, invert it in a circle, map it on the Riemann sphere, and finally get inside the sphere. Several layers of spirals, seen from a mathematically forbidden point of view.

3D anamorphosis
3D anamorphosis
40cmx40cm*20cm
Wood and plastic
2011

This work is an attempt to answer the question a British sculptor, James Hopkins asked me : "Is it possible to design a 3D object that will reveal an hidden design when seen in a mirror ?"
The answer is yes, and I begun to develop a method for constructing such installations. This is just an appetizer: the research field looks so fertile. I will present a paper about the method I used at the conference.