2014 Joint Mathematics Meetings
Shanthi Chandrasekar
Artists
Statement
As a visual artist, I tend to create images in my mind as I learn new concepts. I also enjoy exploring geometrical shapes and the patterns created by their repetition. I explore traditional art forms, philosophical ideas and scientific concepts that have mathematical principles underlying them. I have tried to visually interpret these concepts through drawings, paintings and sculptures.
Artworks
Asymptotic Journeys: Wormholes
17"x18"x16"
Brass, thread, wood and paper
2013
My fascination for asymptotes of curves led to this piece. I would visualize the line going on and on forever without ever reaching zero and then taking off into another dimension where our perception of size changes. This sculpture is my 3D interpretation of an asymptote. As the knots get tighter, they tend to form a tube, which is similar to the conceptual model of a wormhole.
Indian women often begin their day by drawing Kolams on the threshold of their house. These repeating patterns have been around for centuries, and symbolize the scientific and philosophical patterns innate to and infinite throughout the cosmos.
Kolams are fractals. They are drawn using a set of rules and a combination of curves that retain their shape even as they get larger. This Kolam is made of a 93x93 dot grid and a single closed line that encloses all the dots. The smallest Kolam that can be drawn with this single lined pattern is by using a 5x5 dot grid and it can be made larger by adding 4 more rows and columns. So, the pattern goes like 5x5, 9x9, 13x13, 17x17 and so on. The 93x93 dot grid is the largest I have drawn so far.