Bridges 2025 Exhibition of Mathematical Art, Craft, and Design

Andy McCafferty

Artists

Andy McCafferty

Artist and Tutor

Slade School of Fine Art, UCL. Alumni.

London, England

andymccafferty.net@gmail.com

https://andymccafferty.net/

Statement

I make artwork that addresses our perception of ‘reality’, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects to reconcile questions of art, mathematics, and science. I have engaged with scientists at Imperial and my work is available at the Wellcome Collection. I explore the mathematics behind anamorphosis, using analogue and digital tools to visualise conceptual models in physics; through 2D imagery into semi 3D installations, flat but in space, and design 3D-printed sculptures inspired by a Renaissance illusion. I invite the viewer to participate in these experiments, to help gain insight into mathematical structures and relationships through your senses, and to look in new and unexpected ways.

Artworks

Image for entry 'Just Another Vanitas'

Just Another Vanitas

2.7 x 2.6 x 24.0 cm

CAD, Sculpting software, SLS 3D Print: polished white nylon

2019

Additional info

Originated from Holbein’s mysterious painting, The Ambassadors, the artwork and accompanying booklet is a project following discussion with an art historian at the National Gallery. Mystery is centred on understanding the anamorphosis of the skull. Imagine holding it in your hand!? Starting as a scan of a real skull, it was sculpted using the 2D Ambassadors skull as reference. I discovered the correct plane to apply a perspective transformation in CAD, producing the 3D anamorphism. Could the work reveal Holbein’s method? His iconic anamorphic skull is ‘brought to life’ as a 3D-printed sculpture making the ‘impossible’ physical. This bridges the gap between the digital and physical, making the virtual world felt.