Kerry Mitchell

Statement

My work is composed primarily of computer generated, mathematically-inspired, abstract images. I draw from the areas of geometry, fractals and numerical analysis, and combine them with image processing technology. The resulting images powerfully reflect the beauty of mathematics that is often obscured by dry formulae and analyses. An overriding theme that encompasses all of my work is the wondrous beauty and complexity that flows from a few, relatively simple, rules. Inherent in this process are feedback and connectivity; these are the elements that generate the patterns. They also demonstrate to me that mathematics is, in many cases, a metaphor for the beauty and complexity in life. This is what I try to capture.

Artworks

This image illustrates the Kolakoski 3 sequence 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, etc. The sequence only uses the numbers {1, 2, 3} and each term gives the length of runs of 1s, 2s, or 3s. The elements start in the upper left corner, along the columns and down the rows, to the lower right corner. In each square cell, a single large outer annulus represents 1, two rings for 2, and two rings with a center dot indicate 3. The colors cycle through red, yellow, and green.

This image is made of two composited whirls, each of which contains four pursuit curves on a square. One whirl has its pursuit curves spiraling in clockwise and the other, counter-clockwise.