Monday, December 8, 2014

Hyperbolic Planes and sustainable networks


My exhibit was organized and curated by RIXC in connection with much larger project - Riga 2014- European Culture Capital  It was hosted by contemporary art gallery kim? (kas ir māksla?- what is art?). The exhibit draw a wide media attention therefore in this blog just some links.

The most feel of the exhibit you can get from this special program about the exhibit for Riga 2014 
The exhibit was mentioned also in Finland

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Awesome geometry is everywhere!


Lots of geometry applications this summer- I collected here some what you may missed;-)
Please welcome Noa Raviv to 3D printing geometric fashion world! Interview with her and some more awesome designs are here.

Issey Miyake continues explorations in geometry. Using “A Piece of Cloth” philosophy, which is based on the mathematical program with 3D geometric principles by Associate Professor Jun Mitani of the University of Tsukuba, 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE creates brilliant and complex 3D forms that become 2D when folded.

DELTA collection is based on equilateral triangles.
3D printing is changing the image of High Couture.

Georges Rousse has made a name for himself with incredibly complex pieces of geometric art that can only be seen from the perfect angle. His latest collection is no exception, which uses architecture, colors, and lines to create various optical illusions around an abandoned building.
Eric and Martin Demaine in American Craft

Remeber -in my Crocheting Adventures with the Hyperbolic Planes I mentioned work of Mahedevan, his work has inspired morphogenesis

Incredible geometric images by young Chinese martiel art students


Art of geometry inspired modern dance:
http://youtu.be/vwTWk0BUrAw
Interesting geometric art

Geometric shapes and patterns by Gary Andrew Clarke

Dietmar Voorwold, a German artist based in Scotland, creates beautiful and temporary works of natural land art by arranging rocks, leaves and other natural materials into simple geometric patterns.
If you happen to be in London - go and see the exhibit Radical Geometry in Royal Academy!
stunning images by former physicist Tom Beddard

http://youtu.be/OmSbdvzbOzY
Remembering spring - stunning images from tulip fields
Tired of serious stuff? Try chocolate geometry!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

2014 Fields Medals


Shortly before the announcement of this year's winners of Fields Medal, there appeared the piece in NYTimes How Math got its Nobel - about Fields medal, essentially saying it cannot be compared to Nobel, it is politicized. Yes, it really cannot be compared to Nobel Prize - 15 000 Canadian dollars against 8 million Swedish kronor if you think in terms of money. However, it is the highest prize in mathematics, or one of the highest.
Fields' instructions about the medal were explicit: it was to be struck in gold; it was to be free of the name of any country or person; the inscription was to be in Latin or ancient Greek; it was to be awarded not only in recognition of distinguished research but also to encourage further effort. Fields did not stipulate any age limit. This was done in subsequent years by the IMU in a series of decisions culminating in the one taken at the Moscow Congress (1960) where an upper age limit of 40 was taken. The initial seed money for the medal came from funds left over from the 1924 Toronto Congress. But when Fields died, he left his estate to sustain it. In spite of his written instructions that the medal should bear the name of no person, from the beginning it has been known as the "Fields Medal." In sports we know who is the best, but Who is number one in math? Marcus du Sutoy has an interesting discussion there.
Now it is no more a secret who won 2014 Fields medals - they are:
Artur Avila - first Brazilian mathematician, Manjul Bhargava - first Indian mathematician, Martin Hairer - first Canadian mathematician, and Maryam Mirzakhani - first ever woman to receive this honor.
I love this picture:
First woman South Korean president Park Geun-hye,
first woman Fields medalist Miryam Mirzakhani,
first woman president of IMU Ingrid Daubechies
No Americans among this year's Field medalists - so was the piece in NYTimes coincidence?Which competition these days is not considered political?Iranian president tweeted about Mirzakhani - this tweet has also sparked political discussions. Some bloggers also try not to be too excited about Fields medal like
I love math and I hate Fields medal.
Terry Tao in his blog gives an explanation of the mathematics of Fields medalists 2014.
Of course, there is a lot of press now about them. Somehow less in press are discussed other prize winners. As my background is in computer science, I am always excited about Rolf Nevannlina prize winners. This year it is Subhash Khot. Typically, major math prizes are given for major results. But in this case, Subhash Khot is receiving the Nevanlinna Prize in large part for a conjecture – and even more
surprisingly, one whose truth experts can’t yet decide on.

I found through Twitter two mentions Mirzakhani's work that were mentioning me:  by Annalee Newitz and Ian Sample. It was a surprise for me because I never met Miryam or corresponded with her. I am not a research mathematician. How could possibly I could be linked with her? Both writers tried to explain Mirzakhani mathematics to general audience and one of the things they used - crocheted hyperbolic planes! I am happy that they have served for exactly the purpose they were created - to make hyperbolic geometry accessible and easier to explain. I am not sure though that Mirzakhani used anything like that. She has been quoted as mostly drawing pictures on large piece of paper. Her little daughter thinks that she is painting. But something familiar I saw in her pictures - here is a screen shot:
Yes, indeed - those are "hyperbolic pair of pants" - term coined by Bill Thurston.
But please - do not ask me to explain Mirzakhani's results further than this! :-)

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Geometry and fashion again - origami dresses


This amazing fashion designer is Diana Gamboa from Columbia who has been able to re-interpret ancient Japanese art of origami and to create these fabuluous dresses ... from paper. In her interview she also mentions that crochet is one of her favorite mediums but I could not find something as impressive by her done in crochet.

This is my favorite - last week I was leading workshop for teachers in exploring the space through design. This is wonderful example of that! Diana Gamboa says that she gets her ideas from her dreams, from her inner world. I wish there would be more beautiful geometric dreams.

You tube video from Paris Ethical Fashion Show in 2011 where these dresses can be seen moving

Brian Andrews Interview with Diana Gamboa :
"My mom taught me to believe in our dreams."

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Colorful visit in Stony Brook

Sculpture by Halaman Ferguson on Stony Brool campus
Simons Center for Geometry and Physics

Simons Center Gallery is currently having an exhibit "Stitches" (curated by Flo Tarjan).  I missed the opening but I was invited to give a talk there on May 20th. Video of the talk by Elaine Krajenke Ellison "Mathematical Quilts" and my talk "Crocheting Adventures with the Hyperbolic Planes" can be seen here. The third artist in this exhibit is Gabi Mayer with her large crocheted sculptures.




In my talk I was demonstrating my mathematical models.
Earlier that day David and I had great treat - George Hart kindly invited us to visit his studio.



George has story about every sculpture he created, and we could spend the whole day eagerly listening.
But stories do not come free - George brought a bag with various puzzles and we had to show that we can solve at least some of them.







Thank you, George, and thank you Flo for this great opportunity to visit Stony Brook and have such a wonderful time there!