George Hart
"Aardvards"
Wood, 2003.
George W. Hart received his B.S. in Mathematics in 1977 and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1987, all from MIT. He is currently a research professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stony Brook University in New York. His research explores algorithms for the generation of geometric forms. Much of his time is consumed in constructing mathematical sculpture.
"As a sculptor of constructive geometric forms, my work deals with patterns and relationships derived from classical ideals of balance and symmetry. Mathematical yet organic, these abstract forms invite the viewer to partake of the geometric aesthetic. The integral wholeness of each self-contained sculpture presents a crystalline purity, a conundrum of complexity, and a stark simplicity.
"Aardvarks is constructed from sixty identical pieces of laser-cut plywood. The pieces lie in the sixty extended face planes of a pentagonal hexecontahedron (a facially regular Catalan polyhedron). I designed the pieces to weave in and out through each other yet meet at their extremities. Although the parts are identical, they meet in various ways to create negative spaces with 2-fold, 3-fold, or 5-fold symmetry. Originally conceived as an abstract form, I had a vague impression of aardvarks while designing it, so decided that was an appropriate name."
The full range of George W. Hart's award winning artwork can be seen at his georgehart.com website. He can be reached via email at george@georgehart.com.