Celestial tapestry: the warp and weft of art and mathematics

Abstract

"Artists and scientists view the world in quite different ways. Nevertheless, they are united in a search for hidden order beneath surface appearances. The quest for eternal geometrical designs is also seen in the sacred mathematical patterns created by the world's great religions. Tibetan monks fashion chalk mandalas representing the emergence of order in the universe. Moslem architects wrap their buildings in elaborate abstract tessellating designs. Celestial Tapestry' places mathematics within a vibrant cultural and historical context. Threads are woven together telling of surprising influences that pass between the Arts and Mathematics. The story involves intriguing characters: the soldier who laid the foundations for fractals and computer art while recovering in hospital after suffering serious injury in the First World War; the mathematician imprisoned for bigamy whose books had a huge influence on twentieth century art; the pioneer clockmaker who suffered from leprosy; the Victorian housewife who amazed mathematicians with her intuition for higher-dimensional space"--Publisher's description.

Contents

Introduction: A magic carpet ride -- Part I. The Fabric of Space, Time, and Matter. Into the labyrinth -- Earth, air, fire, and water -- The elements -- The wheel of fortune -- The end of the world is nigh! -- Interstellar overdrive -- Part II. Weaving Numbers and Patterns. Burning down the house -- Rampant rabbits -- There's magic in the air -- Doctor illuminatus -- The book of changes -- Part III. Drawing Out the Golden Threads. The vanishing point -- The golden number -- Optical skullduggery -- The perils of parallels! -- Part IV. Higher Space and a Deeper Reality. The laws of thought -- Free love in many dimensions -- Into the fourth dimension -- The bride stripped bare -- Aunt Alice in Wonderland -- Part V. Wandering Round the Knot Garden. Let's do the twist -- The Gordian knot -- All for one and one for all -- Part VI. Casting the Celestial Net. Painting by numbers -- The flat Earth society -- Mapping the cosmos -- Puzzles : answers.