Fragments of Infinity: A Kaleidoscope of Math and Art [Paperback]

Ivars Peterson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471165581 | ISBN-13: 978-0471165583 | Publication Date: September 14, 2001 | Edition: 1

A visual journey to the intersection of math and imagination, guided by an award-winning author
Mathematics is right brain work, art left brain, right? Not so. This intriguing book shows how intertwined the disciplines are. Portraying the work of many contemporary artists in media from metals to glass to snow, Fragments of Infinity draws us into the mysteries of one-sided surfaces, four-dimensional spaces, self-similar structures, and other bizarre or seemingly impossible features of modern mathematics as they are given visible expression. Featuring more than 250 beautiful illustrations and photographs of artworks ranging from sculptures both massive and minute to elaborate geometric tapestries and mosaics of startling complexity, this is an enthralling exploration of abstract shapes, space, and time made tangible.
Ivars Peterson (Washington, DC) is the mathematics writer and online editor of Science News and the author of The Jungles of Randomness (Wiley: 0-471-16449-6), as well as four previous trade books.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What do math equations look like when the numbers are translated into form and the form is rendered in, say, silk, or glass? In Fragments of Infinity: A Kaleidoscope of Math and Art, Ivars Peterson (The Jungles of Randomness), a writer and editor at Science News, studies sculpture inspired by abstract math. Many among this breed appear in plazas and subway stations; others get little visibility, being too minute or fragile. Quasicrystals and hypercubes rendered in glass and metal; lattices transformed into different geometric patterns; M”bius strips made of everything from ribbon to bronze; computer sculpture generators via numerous methods and media, the work examined explores "the beauty of embedded possibility." Helaman Ferguson, Harriet Brisson and William Webber are among the artists represented. 250-plus photos and illus.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471165581
• ISBN-13: 978-0471165583
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great combination of art and mathematics, October 18, 2001

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fragments of Infinity: A Kaleidoscope of Math and Art (Paperback)

Mathematics and art have many things in common, something that practitioners of both often go to great lengths to refute. In this book, Ivars Peterson, one of the truly great practitioners of the art of popular mathematical writing, shows us how intertwined they really are. The sculptures that he describes and explains are truly astonishing. I looked at some of the photos for several minutes, seeing many different things, even though I was limited to the two dimensional projection. Without a doubt, the piece itself must be truly breathtaking.
Many popular mathematics books have delved into the synergy of math and art, but never to this extent or with this effectiveness. This is by far the best book I have ever seen in this area and I recommend it to my artist friends as well as those who practice math.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Combination of Math and Art, April 18, 2004

By 

L. Curtis "Millicent Y. Curtis" (Memphis, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fragments of Infinity: A Kaleidoscope of Math and Art (Hardcover)

Fragments of Infinity is one of my favorite books. One reason is because the author Mr. Peterson gives an indept explanation as to how mathematics and art work together. I really loved the pictures and illustrations. I actually used them as a guideline for my own artistic creations. I've even made several model spaceships with the information given. This book also has an excellent source of information for students of mathematics to use on everyday homework assignments. I would suggest this book for an artistic person, whether it be a child or adult, who has a problem with math because "Fragments of Infinity" is an excellent resource to enhance one's understanding of math along with the creativity of art.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lovely choice of art but needlessly limited - and shaky math, November 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Fragments of Infinity: A Kaleidoscope of Math and Art (Paperback)

"Fragments of Infinity: A Kaleidescope of Math and Art" is a compilation of beautiful examples of mathematical art. It will give the lay reader more than an inkling of the connection between advanced math and beauty -- a connection that is ordinarily very difficulat to convey. And it will give the mathematics professional something to savor as well.

Unfortunately, the book has two major flaws:

1) It entirely omits art from computer graphics, which is perhaps the largest source of extraordinarily beautiful mathematically-based art these days -- and it is art which translates to the printed page just as well as traditional sculpture or painting does, and

2) This book displays a shaky grasp of mathematical concepts by the author and most likely an absence of fact-checking by the publisher. For example, although the book's main mathematical topic is geometry/topology, the author shows on page 141 that he does not even comprehend what a Moebius band is, where he claims that the triangular but assymetric recycling symbol is a Moebius band (correct), but that the symbol having full 3-way symmetry is not a Moebius band (incorrect). Unfortunately, gaffes like this are widespread in the author's previous books as well.