2016 Bridges Conference

Christopher Bartlett

Artists

Christopher Bartlett

Professor Emeritus of Art

Towson University

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

cbartlett@towson.edu

Statement

Beyond the Golden ratio (Phi), a Mercury ratio (Chi)...? Bartlett's meta-golden Chi or Mercury ratio is a unique mathematical constant related to the golden ratio and other metallic means. One of the reasons this meta-golden Mercury ratio is a pleasing number, with remarkable geometric properties similar to the golden ratio, is that a rectangle of width 1 and a length of chi can be divided into a rectangle proportional to the original rectangle and a golden ratio rectangle. Recall the golden rectangle divides into a square and a golden rectangle. The precise ratio for the Mercury or Chi rectangle is 1+√(4phi+5)/(2phi) or approximately 1.355…

Artworks

Image for entry 'Cornish Coast'

Cornish Coast

54 x 40 cm

acrylic on canvas

2015

This painting is a practical application of the meta-golden Mercury or Chi ratio rectangle. Its composition is constructed using an armature that yields golden ratio divisions, consequent squares and χ-ratio rectangles. The more compact aspect ratio of this rectangle presents an appealing contemporary shape for art and design with the same generative properties as the golden rectangle itself.