STUDENTS at Curtin University have discovered adding the universe, nature and numbers together equals art.
A visual journey through the history and development of mathematics by two third-year art students will be on display at the John Curtin Gallery’s Access Gallery until February 23.
13 – Our Faith in Numbers presents and interrogates people’s unquestioned faith in mathematics, and through a loose narrative explores the ongoing conversation they have with nature through numbers.
Perth artists John Hutchinson and Aska fused their expertise in quantum physics, world travels and teaching to craft the unique installation.
Aska and Hutchinson, who lives in Riverton, created 13 mixed-media works using materials ranging from wood and bone through marble and glass to steel and electronics.
The materials reflect the human progress in technology and mathematically-based knowledge through the ages.
Aska said humans had always taken mathematics for granted.
“We use mathematics to describe all the natural phenomena around us; we have based physics on it and we trust it to predict future experimental outcomes,” she said.
“However, we defined mathematics before we had developed our understanding of the way in which the universe works, so all of our subsequent discoveries are based on that original definition.
“Now doesn’t that seem almost magical that we just happened to find the right system to unlock the mysteries of the natural world?
“The exhibition aims to inform visitors about the history of mathematics and to enable them to explore the meaning we have given to numbers as well as the challenges with which mathematics has presented humans.
“It also introduces some of the milestone discoveries which enabled us to develop today’s complex technologies, such as quantum physics and fractal geometry.”
The exhibition runs until February 28.
Entry is free.