When Art And Maths Add Up
November 6th, 2011 - Cape Town
Cape Argus, The Good Weekend: November 5, 2011
IMAGINE using mathematical algorithms to create patterns for art. Known as fractal art, Cape Town artist Dr Michael Durst has been winning international awards for his work in this genre.
An exhibition of his work, "The Wonders of Fractal Art", is on display at the Winchester Mansions Hotel in Sea Point.
The Good Weekend visited the home of the retired psychologist to view this computer-generated work and to chat about its uniqueness.
Durst says it takes from two to three days to create the patterns and then more time to add colour and light.
“A year-and-a-half ago I saw it on a website. Having a ‘can do’ attitude, I decided to try it,” he said.
He won first place for the work "Thought" in Fine Art America’s art competition.
The work shows a detailed orb made up of numerous absorbing lines and patterns.
A psychologist for 35 years, Durst began his art career when he retired about 10 years ago. His initial work was mostly impressionistic scenery.
To create the fractal pieces, he uses seven or eight programs to manipulate colour and lines.
“I have no idea how I get to a piece. It’s like being a conductor.
“Sometimes I work with 12 different designs. I save them and interact with them. This allows me to layer, rotate and reverse patterns.”
There follows a computer process known as rendering, which flattens the image. The image is then sent to a printer and can take up to a day to print.
A flat poster then makes its way to him – but instead of leaving the work as it is, Durst then “glazes” the prints by applying thin alternate layers of acrylic paint and varnish.
“This shifts the colours as light gets caught in the layers of glazing. I use acrylic paint as it dries quickly. Oil would take hours to dry. Here I get to mix colours on the canvas as I go.”
Durst worked on the art that is on exhibition for about four months.
I asked how much creativity the process allows, considering it relies on algorithms and computers.
“It’s as much creativity as putting a brush on canvas. I can change every factor as I go along. The algorithms provide a starting point.
They are the building blocks. Maths is an exact science but fractals are not."
“It’s exciting to be part of this new art form. My glazing is where the creativity is as I get to emphasise the aspects I want to.”
He does this by using colours such as red to create foreground and violet for distance.
“The future of art is 3D as humans are getting more used to it.”
The work is on display at the Winchester Mansions in Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa until December 3.