Mikael Vejdemo-Johansson
Scientific Officer
School of Computer Science, University of St. Andrews
Scotland
The advent of accessible automated tools — CNC-controlled mills, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, 3d printers, et.c. — that through the Maker movement reaches commodity prices opens up a number of new approaches to art: especially algorithmic and mathematical art works. The computational control allows us to write algorithms to generate concrete physical art; and their precision allows a higher resolution than what the eye can discern.
In particular, I have worked for a wild and creative month with laser cutters — through TechShop:SF I was able to get a month's worth of tool access in early 2011. During this time, I produced a number of pieces highlighting and reifying different mathematical concepts, giving them physical presence and accessibility and turning abstract geometry into hands-on displays and objects.
In particular, I have worked for a wild and creative month with laser cutters — through TechShop:SF I was able to get a month's worth of tool access in early 2011. During this time, I produced a number of pieces highlighting and reifying different mathematical concepts, giving them physical presence and accessibility and turning abstract geometry into hands-on displays and objects.
Hyperbolic Coasters
14 items, 12cm diameter each
Laser-etched glass
2011
Among the most successful of the reified mathematics art-pieces I produced where these — hyperbolic disk tilings with the Poincare disk model were etched onto glass disks, producing a collection of reified hyperbolic geometries and symmetries.
Thanks to Ravi Vakil (Stanford) who lends six of the disks on display to the exhibition.
Thanks to Ravi Vakil (Stanford) who lends six of the disks on display to the exhibition.