For

Middle Years Students

Curriculum

Maths and Art

Aim

To understand spatial awareness and shape.

Preparation

To do this activity you will need to:

• Read the information for Theme Two – Postwar Abstraction in Europe.
• View the work either online or in the exhibition.
• Research through the library or Internet.

Individual Task

Draw a six equal sided shape called a hexagon. Repeat this shape to create tessellations (tiling like patterns). Look at honeycomb for inspiration.

Research Questions

Consider the work of Victor Vasarely. How does he use tessellation?

Look at the work of the artist M.C. Escher and comment on how he uses tessellation in his work. Use isometric grid paper.

Group Task

Define and locate these mathematical ideas within Vasarely's work.

• equilateral triangles
• hexagons
• volume
• symmetry
• spheres
• curvilinear forms

Find some examples of axonometric drawing – where the image is drawn from above in three dimensions. Observe how Victor Vasarely constructed his axonometric cubes.

Can you find any other works in the exhibition that incorporate mathematical ideas?

Discussion Questions

Why would interior designers, architects and landscape gardeners select to use axonometric drawing to explain their designs to clients?