Aiman Soliman
Mathematical art is a unique form of artistic expression. Unlike other
forms of art, the rigor of mathematics provides a guide for the
imagination, although it could be restrictive sometimes compared to
free artistic expression. Yet, these strict mathematical rules allow
for judging, objectively, the success of an art project. I also find
that mathematical artists share a similar experience with scientists
in that solving a problem will usually lead to discovering another
and, therefore, the continuation of their work in a natural way.
Bertrand Russell, MC Escher, Zeno of Elea, and Oscar Reutersvärd
explored paradoxes in mathematics, logic, and visual arts. This
triptych is designed to celebrate paradoxes by unifying a flat
tessellation with a 3D impossible object. Three motifs of flying
crows were developed by adopting distinctive matching rules on the
three-axis of the hexagonal grid and used to construct an
impossible flying path. The triptych reads the world as it
appears, the paradox, and the interruption that allows us to step
outside our daily routines to re-examine our thoughts. The style
of the triptych is influenced by Japanese painting, especially
Rinpa, Shijō school, and the Zen ink paintings, where the latter
adopt paradoxes as a way for enlightenment.