Update about the theory behind Kaloseisdos from Matthew Thomas

Update:

I have asked for some more in depth background information from our main exhibitor, Matthew Thomas about his fascinating images as there have been many questions from the staff of the companies within MerseyBIO today as I hung the show.

 This series of works (Kaloseisdos), utilises the fibonacci series of numbers. This is to merge the the world of art and science together to make works that can have a sense of 'controlled chaos' about them. 

He believes that art and science have the same working ethos with many experiments having to be made to get the 'right' or correct result. Matthew repeats the process several times to explore different perspectives and to essentially make sure his theories are 'working' correctly. The sense of knowing that you have achieved what you have set out to do is shared by both art  AND science.  'Kaloseisdos' is a window onto that world. To achieve the 'concept' of a kind beauty, within the Fibonacci number series.

 

Taking his inspiration from the merging of Art and Science through 'natures number' (the number series that defines and quantifies beauty), he has created a series of images that mirror this 'formula'.

 

Each image, deliberately shot on a black background, has within it, the code of life. 

 

Each plant, shows its inner 'spirit' has its own glow, through the absence of light behind it. this reveals the life / energy exuding and pulsing / emerging from the verdant form. 72 degrees of rotation, frames of reference that incorporate the 0,1,1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on.

 

There is spontaneity within this mathematical conundrum, as he uses the number series to create these works and not his own 'aesthetic' values.

 

The Fibonacci Series

By definition, the first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 0 and 1, and each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two. (0,1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610)

 

The Fibonacci sequence is named after Leonardo of Pisa, who was known as Fibonacci. Fibonacci's 1202 book Liber Abaci introduced the sequence to Western European mathematics, although the sequence had been described earlier in Indian mathematics. (By modern convention, the sequence begins with F0 = 0. The Liber Abaci began the sequence with F1 = 1, omitting the initial 0, and the sequence is still written this way by some.)

 

Fibonacci numbers are closely related to Lucas numbers in that they are a complementary pair of Lucas sequences. They are intimately connected with the golden ratio, for example the closest rational approximations to the ratio are 2/1, 3/2, 5/3, 8/5, …and so on. Applications include computer algorithms such as the Fibonacci search technique and the Fibonacci heap data structure, and graphs called Fibonacci cubes used for interconnecting parallel and distributed systems. They also appear in biological settings, such as branching in trees, arrangement of leaves on a stem, the fruit spouts of a pineapple, the flowering of artichoke, an uncurling fern and the arrangement of a pine cone.

 

 

Music

It may seem odd that 'numbers' can appear in music and poetry, but there are many examples where great composers and poets have deliberately applied Golden Ratio proportions to the structure of their compositions.

Mozart is undoubtedly the finest example of such a composer. His piano sonatas have some characteristics in common: Each one is divided into two sections. The first is always the one in which the theme of the piece is represented, and the second is always the section in which the theme is treated with different variations. Almost always, Mozart's sonatas are divided in such a way that the division occurs on the Golden Ratio point.

Beethoven, too, used Golden Ratio proportions in his works by repeating certain parts of the music at intervals consistent with the Golden Ratio (that is, the verse is played at the beginning, at the end, and once at the point where the piece is 0.618 of the way through). Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is a fine example of this division.These 'hidden' references to the Golden Ratio are not limited to classical music, though. In modern music, there have been quite a few examples of how artists have referenced Fibonacci in their works. For example, Marilyn Manson – the gothic-inspired musician, photographer, painter and writer – has on numerous occasions made reference to Fibonacci (either directly or indirectly).

Also (from a review by jeanine.marteau), the spectra images

Spectra:

As the colour blossoms from within the image and expands out it is almost as if the frame restricts the blast and restrains its liquid, silky flow. It is captivating and somewhat tactile because of the multiple surface layers, you almost want to go further into the material and follow its glide, let it twist you around and submerge you in colour.

I found the series at first look quite ambiguous and enjoyed the thought of each piece being open, be it open to interpretation or open in terms of freedom- to let yourself be drawn into the image’s sweeping form to explore it’s imaginative space, without trying to grasp direct meaning. Here’s what the artist himself said:

“I try and not use the same methods for each project, this brings a fresh impetuous to truly explore all the possibilities.I use photography and digital imaging technologies to create visceral layers that question historical and cultural concepts of time”

Images made from ‘solid liquid light’ – fused glass. Only existing in the mind and realised with aid of computer software, this represents a solid dream. Transparent paint that floats in abstract form. 2D Sculpture that looks real (from real fused glass). This gives an unreality which meditation mixes with imagination. The reality of abstraction. From the real to the unreal. Reach out and you can touch the subjects is the photos, except you know they are not real. This holds a mirror up to our society, the ephemeral nature of our existence and the role we all have to play in the transparent.

 

Matthew Thomas

Artist / Photographer

Matthew is an award winning artist / photographer with over twenty years experience as a professional, shooting portraits and behind-the-scenes documentary images. He has won numerous commissions photographing a wide spectrum of images for films,theatre and Carnivals both here (UK) and the West-Indies.He has been featured in 'Object of Dreams' and Black and White Photography' magazines. Now a concept photographer for musicians bands and corporate clients, he has shot many musical genres over the years from  heavy metal to  hip-hop bands.

 

Matthews background is from the classical tradition of painting and printmaking. He uses all these experiences in his Exhibition / Photographic work. Matthew exhibits his fine art work widely (including this year in Barbados!).