2019 Joint Mathematics Meetings
Erika Balogh
Artists
Erika Balogh
Artist, Designer, and Educator
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, Texas, USA
Statement
I am fascinated with abstraction made up of lines, shapes, texture, and color. The focus of my exploration is to illustrate geometric and irregular shapes and the patterns created by their repetition. Patterns formed by mirror or rotational symmetry can be found in nature and in human creations abundantly. Symmetry is a shared concept in mathematics and art. Our brains inadvertently seek out symmetry everywhere because symmetrical compositions are aesthetically pleasing.
Artworks
“Transformation: Optimism”
50 x 40 cm
digital art
2018
My intention is to create a contrast between man-made and natural. The symmetrical design in the foreground made up from various geometric shapes. It represents a man-made chaos that transforms into curvilinear shapes that illustrate nature - a sense of harmonious proportion and balance. The man-made symmetrical design symbolizes life, a precious existence of humanity taken for granted in an unforgiving environment.
I generated the irregular shape in a computer graphics program. Then, I applied radial symmetry to rotate the identical, partially overlapping shape 12 times. I repeated that shape several times with a slight rotation. As a result, I have an aesthetically pleasing, but complex geometric design in the center of my composition.
“Transformation: Anticipation”
50 x 40 cm
digital art
2018
I used the same techniques here – the rotational symmetry of irregular shapes. However, the result is completely different from the previous composition. The vibrant colors and the intense transformation of the repeating and overlapping shapes create anticipation. The composition is quite beautiful and enigmatic at the same time.