Event 1 Hammers Museum

On April 23, I had the pleasure of visiting the Hammers Museum for the first time.

One of the first attractions I became drawn to actually involved quite a bit of physical involvement, balance, dexterity, and trust in the math/physics behind the art. The original design had a colorful appeal and physically resembles a top. And from what we know of tops, we can expect how it will function when it spins. But that all changes when we are now physically interacting with the art. 

Artistic inspiration for the Heatherwick Studio Spun Chair

Trying the chair for myself - considering purchasing for $766

While the exterior is aesthetically pleasing, the interior design is perfectly balanced to provide maximal centripetal force. Recalling back to physics.

The centripetal acceleration formula dictates that the lower "radius" or lever arm of the spinning object, the greater the acceleration. Thus, the low surface area and design for the individual to be "scooped" in while sitting isn't just for the purpose of the aesthetic design but also for the underlying functional purposes. This example changed my perspective of what defines "art." In retrospect, I have walked passed thousands of unique structures, buildings, and designs that are constantly present around us that requires a close collaboration between the architects, designers, and engineers to make it possible. <http://formulas.tutorvista.com/physics/centripetal-acceleration-formula.html>

seed cathedral in the exhibit

Of the artwork, the seed cathedral caught my attention the most. The world expo that takes place every five years can be considered one of the most exhilarating artistic and cultural indulging experience that one can ever experience. The world exposition transitioned from themes of industrialization to cultural exchange and eventually name branding (Wiki, World Fair). The mathamatical design underlying the bends of each beam that stems out of the base provides not only an incredibly stable but also aesthetically pleasing structure.

Life size version of the Seed Cathedral at the UK pavilion when I visited the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai China

Upon encountering Gridwork by Charles Gaines, I was reminded of the underlying mathematical concepts of art, particularly digital art. While the painting utilized numerical values spanning from the center of the portrait labeled "O", the artwork reminded me of how computers and televisions display/ reproduce the display of artwork digitally using binaries. Essentially, art can be reproduced by using a series of numerical values to describe the position of the pixel and also the color, brightness, and intensity. Nonetheless, the concept of grid art is definitely a form of art that encapsulates the bridge between the math and art. Likewise, the artwork above has different colors and numbers displayed purely to describe the placement coordinates. Essentially, mathematics can be an underlying way to either "create" or "describe" a piece of artwork.

"Biography." The Hammer Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2015. <http://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2015/charles-gaines-gridwork-1974-1989/>.

"Centripetal Acceleration Formula." Centripetal Acceleration Formula. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2015. <http://formulas.tutorvista.com/physics/centripetal-acceleration-formula.html>.

"World's Fair." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 May 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_fair>.