Frank Murri’s Timber Artworks Inspired By Mathematics
When mathematical expressions are combined with artisanal craftsmanship, interesting artworks can be created. This is the case for the work of Frank Murri, an Australian based artist, interested in the intersections between art and mathematics. His artworks have been exhibited in several commercial and regional galleries. Frank Murri always had a passion for art and mathematics but pursued the fields of commerce and law at University, until he met his artist wife and life took a more aesthetic turn.
Frank Murri is a self-taught sculpture born in Newcastle, Australia. He received various awards and his artworks have been widely exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in several galleries across Australia. He explores the beauty of pure mathematics and visualizes data though 3D sculpted artworks made of timber.
Data Aided Design was able to connect with Frank Murri to blank and discuss the possibilities offered by mathematics to create artistic sculptures.
How do you implement data in the design process you apply for your artworks?
I create timber relief carved artworks, where I incorporate pure mathematics data. This data is derived from calculations of particular theorems and sequencing contained in number theory. The underlying foundations to my abstract artworks are built on this mathematical data and the results are represented in the precise placement of each carving. However, the overall layout of the timber panels and their formations are my own aesthetic artistic expression.
What are the opportunities in using data and mathematics in your design process?
Infinite opportunities! The beauty of data and mathematics are their infinite applications.How do you work with data in your company?
Mathematical theorems are explored, calculations of number theory data are derived and a set of data is then obtained to create a visual representation of this mathematical exploration.What do you think will be the future evolution of the use of data in the design fields?
Like mathematics, the answers to this question are infinite. It is the creativity capacity of the designers which will decide how far this evolution will reach.
In the artworks presented by Frank Murri, he represents various mathematical concepts such as the Pi, represented by carving a groove in the black timber, prime numbers represented through different colours and different carving depths. The hidden beauty of mathematics can be revealed through art, sculpture, architecture. There are lots of possibilities in expressing mathematical concepts such as numbers operations, theorems, functions, differential calculus, vector calculus, algebra in the physical space. In this context, sculpture can be a valuable way of translating a sequence of numbers on a page into something aesthetically attractive. The so-called “Mathematical Sculpture” includes in fact all sculptures generated through a process that involves the use of mathematics for their conception, design development and fabrication.
