Andreia Hall
Artists
Andreia Hall
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Department of Mathematics, University of Aveiro
Portugal
Statement
I am interested in linking mathematics with art using different mediums. I use ceramics, patchwork, and other techniques to illustrate many different mathematical topics, such as fractals, symmetry and anti-symmetry groups, and Voronoi diagrams. The present work explores a Seifert surface shaped as a flower vase.
Artworks
Trefoil Vase
12 x 17 x 17 cm
Ceramic paste, glaze and sand
2022
Trefoil Vase is a ceramic vase shaped as a particular Seifert surface. In mathematics, a Seifert surface is an orientable surface whose boundary is a given knot or link. In this case the boundary is the trefoil knot. A single knot or link can have different inequivalent Seifert surfaces and it is possible to associate non-orientable surfaces to knots. The trefoil knot can give rise to both orientable and non-orientable surfaces. We chose an orientable surface and colored its sides differently: orange inside and beige outside. The surfaced was intentionally stretched on one of its parts to create the utilitarian part of the vase. The inside was glazed to make it waterproof while the outside was coated with sand to give extra texture.