Artists

Robert Spann

Washington, DC

bobspann@gmail.com

Statement

I am intrigued by analogs between the compositional rules and color theory principles that artists use and the mathematical/statistical properties of images. For example, equations, just like images, have symmetries. A digital image is a map from the unit square to a set of k colors. Equations with symmetries can be used to produce images with those same symmetries. Currently, I am experimenting with combinations of equations (formed using Discrete Cosine Transforms) that have different symmetries and/or parities. Combining equations with different symmetries can be used to produce images which have structure, but no symmetries. I then refine these images using digital manipulation based on my own aesthetic judgments.

Artworks

Image for entry 'Jersey Bounce'

Jersey Bounce

50 x 40 cm

Digital Print

2016

I start with two maps, f(x,y) and g(x,y); each a map from the unit square onto the set of integers 1,..,n. Each is constructed using Discrete Cosine Transforms. I combine these two maps to form a map from the unit square onto the integers 1,..,n^2. Each integer is assigned a color. In Jersey Bounce, f(x,y) has color reversing symmetry with respect to a 180 degree rotation. The function g(x,y) is symmetric with respect to a horizontal reflection. The result is an image which has structure, but no symmetries. The initial image is further refined based on my own aesthetic judgments.
Image for entry 'Flying Horses'

Flying Horses

50 x 40 cm

Digital Print

2016

I start with two maps, f(x,y) and g(x,y); each a map from the unit square onto the set of integers 1,..,n. Each is constructed using Discrete Cosine Transforms. I combine these two maps to form a map from the unit square onto the integers 1,..,n^2. Each integer is assigned a color. In Flying Horses, f(x,y) is symmetric with respect to a 180 degree rotation. The function g(x,y) is symmetric with respect to a horizontal reflection. The result is an image which has structure, but no symmetries. The initial image is further refined based on my own aesthetic judgments.