Mysteries of Faith and Art

Why did the fractal cross the road?

To travel back in time?

Compare this image:

The familiar Mandelbrot Set form.

With this image:

An Ottoman illustration of the sacrifice of Ismael (1583).

The resemblance should not be a surprise. We've all seen fractal forms embedded in nature -- trees, river currents, lightning, cauliflower, cacti. These forms are in us (as a nervous system) and right before our eyes every morning (the lines on our faces). That fractal forms, dating back to antiquity, show up in visionary and devotional iconography simply illustrates the maxim that art holds up a mirror to nature. Fractal patterns are often found in early African and Latvian art. Prototypes of the Sierpinski triangle appear in the 12th Century art of the Ravello Cathedral. The structure of Hindu temples is striking in its self-similarity. In fact, most spiritual diagrams, from the mandala to the yin-yang, have noticeable fractal characteristics.

And, speaking of the mysteries of faith and art, like it or not, more contemporary fractal yin-yangs occasionally pop up -- unmuted and unwelcome -- in our not-quite-religious and often less artistic tele-visual services: the pop communion of commercials:

A sacred, self-similar Swoosh?

~/~

--Terry

Rooms with a View
Blog with a View

Initial images seen at this interesting blog: Mathematical Paintings and Sculptures. Nike gloves seen on bikepedlar.

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