Bridges 2026 Exhibition of Mathematical Art, Craft, and Design
Mircea Draghicescu
Artists
Statement
I begin with a simple mathematical pattern or construct and explore how it can take physical form. From there, I build three-dimensional structures that embody these abstract ideas. I work with whatever materials are at hand: wire, paper, string, scrap wood, recycled or repurposed everyday objects. Each piece is an experiment in translating a fragment of mathematics into visible, tangible form, its appeal lying in the mathematics itself. Many are rooted in polyhedra, yet I draw inspiration from other concepts, most notably mathematical knots.
Artworks
Interested in three-dimensional structures, I was drawn to knots after discovering that some, when tied with stiff wire, naturally settle into elegant and stable spatial forms.
The Turk's Head knot adopts a roughly spherical shape when the number of leads exceeds the number of bights but is less than twice that number.
This piece is a 5 lead, 4 bight Turk's Head knot, tied using a stiff plastic tube that houses a string of LED lights.
Controlled by a variety of algorithms, the lights animate the tube with dynamic patterns that highlight the knot’s geometry.
Special thanks to Lilli Szafranski, whose creative ideas and hands-on help were invaluable in bringing this work to life.