05 Research
Theme and story: Geometry; the Quadrivium and Platonic solids
I began to think about a theme or concept for this project, something that would make it easier to make decisions around. I had already considered the relationship between humans and AI, but I wanted something more visual, and a more solid way to link visuals and audio.
When thinking about sounds and light I like to consider the core of what makes them- the mathematical rules that they emerge from- physics and acoustics. I am interested in why certain harmonies sound pleasing to the ear, for example.
I returned to an old favourite book of mine… Quadrivium ‘number geometry music heaven’ which contains six separate books that were published at an earlier date; Sacred Number, Sacred Geometry, Platonic & Archimedean Solids, Harmonograph, The Elements of Music and A Little Book of Coincidence.
Elements of the Quadrivium were taught by Pythagoras as the Tetraktys around 500 BC, in a community where all were equal, materially and morally, including women and men.
The Quadrivium consists of the four Liberal Arts of Number; Geometry, Music and Cosmology, studied from antiquity to the Renaissance as a way of glimpsing the nature of reality. They synthesise number, space and time. Geometry is number in space, music is number in time, and the cosmos expresses number in space and time.
Number, music, and geometry are metaphysical truths, good and beautiful everywhere at all times. Life across the universe investigates them. They foreshadow the physical sciences.
The content of this book is rich with information, knowledge and beautiful imagery that all emerge from these ‘metaphysical truths’. Not only will this subject (and this book) provide a wide choice of inspiration and subject materials, but by working with some of this knowledge- ie the relationships between sounds, space and visuals can be designed with mathematics at their roots, and therefore with the inherent beauty of nature built in. This is particularly useful when working with computing which is built on numbers and calculations. This makes me return to thinking about AI as a product of computing- could and should I tie in these two subjects into one experience?
Another book already on my shelf is How the World is Made – The Story of Creation According to Sacred Geometry by John Michell with Allan Brown.
An excerpt from the book about the illustrations:
Despite their embellishment and occasional whimsicalities, these drawings are not regarded as ‘art’ (a term somewhat degraded at present). Nor are they meant simply as decorations. Their purpose is to illustrate, as simply and attractively as possible, the basic types and characters in the world of geometry, their marriages and reproductions, and how the different types fit together within a comprehensive scheme of geometry that symbolises the structure of the universe.
And a quote from Galileo
“The grand book of the universe… was written in the language of mathematics, and its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometrical figures, without which it is impossible to understand a single word of it.” GALILEO GALILEI, 1623
In thinking about this topic and theme, I ponder what an audience may get from this;
- A new understanding of geometry
- Awe and wonder at the beauty of geometry
- Inspiration to go and study geometry more
- A new understanding of nature
- A meditative state
Sacred geometry plays a big role throughout world cultures and religions thus ignites images of worship and ceremony. Experiencing it is to observe the universe. This leads me to imagine an immersive space that is akin to a place of worship, a temple of sorts, that the audience enters and is surrounded by resulting in embodiment. In this space the affordances of immersive media can enhance the user experience- reduced distractions allow greater focus on the experience itself.
By working with the idea of a temple, the audience can be transported into an experience that has been known to people for millennia.
Upon ending the experience the audience can feel more connected to the universe, to themselves and perhaps as a result to others and the planet.
As an experience based on the basic structures that exist in the universe, it should be enjoyable by all no matter their beliefs or faith.
“Without mathematical structures it is not possible to understand nature: mathematics is the language of nature.” (Emmer 2005).
What’s the story?
With a confidence in this subject as a theme for my project, my thoughts shift to that of story, narrative and user experience. I think about the possibilities of how this could be presented:
- a guided experience demonstrating geometry, perhaps narrated
- an abstract experience that encourages play and exploration where the audience can discover harmony in sound and light through active participation via sensors
- a series of scenes that can either be sequenced or activated
Bibliography
Martineau, J. (2020). Quadrivium, Wooden Books.
Michell, J. and A. Brown (2009). How the world is made: The story of creation according to sacred geometry, Thames & Hudson.
Toussaint, G. T. (2019). The Geometry of Musical Rhythm: What Makes a “Good” Rhythm Good?, Second Edition, CRC Press.
The Visual Mind II, edited by Michele Emmer, MIT Press, 2005.
Womack, Y. (2013). Afrofuturism : the world of black sci-fi and fantasy culture. Chicago, Chicago Review Press.
