Through my art I make visible the beauty and wonder I see in the often abstract world of mathematics. I enjoy giving visual representations to mathematical concepts such as number, form, and process. I often use patterns that convey messages at multiple levels and scales using a wide variety of mathematical elements and media. Some of my work contains fine detail that allows the art to be viewed differently depending on the distance between the viewer and the art. Another prevalent theme in my work is symmetry, where the overall pattern is created by repeated rotation or translation of a smaller very similar units.
In statistics, and in the more common usage, normality is something that is typical and expected. People, items, or events that don't conform to our ideas can be considered abnormal. Normality from a geometrical standpoint is the direction away from a surface; more precisely, a normal vector is perpendicular to a plane that is tangent to a given point on a surface. The metal spikes (5 cm in length) are approximately normal to the spherical leather interior core having rotational icosahedral (532) symmetry. Leather subculture, an inspiration for this piece, is often considered deviant and not normal by the mainstream. At the same time, within that subculture leather and metal spikes are considered normal. Who defines normality?
Topological Trio
20.0 x 30.0 x 30.0 cm
LEGO
2021, 2022, 2024
These three LEGO designs celebrate several topological structures. A model of Borromean rings is constructed in red, green, and blue; the brick dimensions offer just enough tolerance to feel the rings are separate. An orderly tangle of six squares is constructed from six layered squares made of white and tan plates. A double layered cube based on a design by Rinus Roelofs is constructed from three layers of plates.
