Lun-Yi-Tsai: Bridging the Divide Between Math and Art, Article Critique Example

“Tsai attempts to convey to nonmathematicians those aspects of mathematics that mathematicians themselves find beautiful, e.g.,conceptual simplicity in the structure of a proof, or mutual interconnectedness of apriori diverse ideas (Asok, 2010).The artwork that I selected is by Lun-Yi-Tsai. Lun-Yi-Tsai was Germany’s “Mathmaker of the Week” in August of 2008. Tsai’s artwork centers on the process and power of abstraction and how we make sense of our personal experiences and reality. (Lun-Yi-Tsai, 2002).

One of Tsai’s most famous pieces of artwork is his 2005 Algebraic Degeneration. Algebraic degeneration is the progressive deterioration of physical characters from a level representing the norm of earlier form or generations. Tsai creates this affect using the shape of an hourglass. Tsai increases the affect of this process by creating shades of dark tones at the beginning stages of degeneration and it progresses to lighter tones at the end. This picture is acrylic on panel and is made up of colors blue, light blue, black and hints of green. The 39 x 24 design has a core figure of an hourglass. The hourglass is made up of two full cylinders at the top left and two disjointed hourglasses at the bottom. The colors, shapes and incorporation of additional hourglasses create a 3-D affect.

Tsai’s Algebraic Degeneration is somewhat of a paradoxical image as an hourglass is designed to keep time for one solo event. This image is made up of several hourglasses which can either be interpreted as time within time, extended time or time never ending.  The core hourglass is supported by other hourglasses which gradually become dislodged over time. This can be interpreted as events unfolding over time, eventual death time becoming aimless and perplexing as it continues (Lun-Yi-Tsai, 2008).

References

Asok, A. (2010). Mathematical Perspectives. Retrieved June 24, 2011 from web: http://www.ams.org/journals/bull/2010-47-04/S0273-0979-2010-01316-1/S0273-0979-2010-01316-1.pdf

Lun-Yi-Tsai. (2002). Lun-Yi-Tsai Biography. Retrieved June 24, 2011 from web: http://www.lunyitsai.com/biography/biography.htm

Lun-Yi-Tsai. (2005). Lun-Yi-Tsai Algebraic Degeneration. Retrieved June 24, 2011 from web: http://www.lunyitsai.com/paintings/08.htm