Can Geometry Be Art? | Tate Kids

Summary

This lively video explores geometric art by linking everyday shapes—circles, squares, triangles—to big artistic ideas like symmetry, pattern and tessellation. It traces geometry’s use from historic Islamic tilework to modern movements (Cubism, Suprematism) and highlights artists such as Bridget Riley and sculptors mentioned in the transcript. Hands-on sculptures like Rasheed Arine’s “Zero to Infinity” invite collaboration, showing how stacked cubes can transform fixed symmetry into creative, collective change. The piece encourages viewers to look around their environment, spot repeating shapes, and play with patterns—inviting curiosity about how math and art shape the world around us.

Takeaways

• 😀 Geometric art blends mathematics, geometry, and artistic design through shapes and patterns.
• 😀 Geometry and math, although often separate in school, are interwoven in everyday life, influencing the design of objects and spaces.
• 😀 Symmetry, where shapes are the same on both sides, is a key concept in geometry and can be found in nature and man-made objects.
• 😀 Patterns, made up of repeated shapes, are common in everyday life and are used in design, such as on clothes, walls, and floors.
• 😀 Tessellation is a type of pattern where shapes fit together without gaps, seen in designs like Islamic art and tiling.
• 😀 Geometric art has been explored for centuries, with ancient Islamic art showcasing tessellation in religious and decorative contexts.
• 😀 Artists like the Cubists and Suprematists used geometric shapes in their work to present objects from different angles and perspectives.
• 😀 Bridget Riley’s op art uses shapes and lines to create optical illusions that seem to move or change as you look at them.
• 😀 Geometric art can also be 3D, with sculptures like Salawa Rder's rectangular blocks, which convey the idea of individuality and unity in art.
• 😀 Rasheed Arine’s sculpture 'Zero to Infinity' invites interaction, where cubes can be rearranged by people to create endless new forms, symbolizing creativity and collaboration.
• 😀 'Zero to Infinity' is a commentary on how the world may seem fixed, but through cooperation and creativity, people can break from conformity and explore new possibilities.

Q & A

What is geometric art?

Geometric art is a form of art that is based on shapes and patterns, often involving elements of geometry and mathematics. It uses shapes like squares, triangles, and circles to create visual representations.

How are mathematics and art connected in everyday life?

Mathematics and art are connected in everyday life through shapes, patterns, symmetry, and tessellation, which appear in things like windows, lamps, glasses, furniture, and even natural objects like flowers and insects.

What is symmetry in geometry?

Symmetry in geometry refers to the balance or mirror-image quality of shapes. When a shape or object can be divided into two identical halves, it is said to have symmetry.

What is tessellation, and where can it be seen?

Tessellation is the arrangement of shapes in a way that covers a surface with no gaps or overlaps. It can be seen in patterns on tiles, carpets, walls, and Islamic art, where shapes fit together repetitively.

How has geometry been important in art and mathematics historically?

Geometry has been important in both art and mathematics for thousands of years. Artists and mathematicians have used geometric principles to create works of art, solve mathematical problems, and understand the world around them.

What was the cubist approach to art?

The cubist approach to art aimed to depict objects from multiple angles at once, breaking them down into different shapes and presenting a more abstract, fragmented view of reality.

What is optical art (op art)?

Optical art, or op art, is a style of visual art that uses geometric shapes and patterns to create illusions, often making the viewer perceive motion or changes in the image. Bridget Riley is known for her work in this style.

Can geometric art be 3D? Give an example.

Yes, geometric art can be three-dimensional. An example is the work of artist Salawa Rder, who creates 3D sculptures made of rectangular blocks that represent ideas from Islamic and Sufi poetry.

What is the significance of the sculpture 'Zero to Infinity' by Rasheed Arine?

The sculpture 'Zero to Infinity' consists of wooden cubes that can be moved and rearranged. It represents the idea that everything is interconnected and that creative collaboration can transform fixed structures into endless possibilities.

What does the concept of 'Zero to Infinity' symbolize in Rasheed Arine's sculpture?

'Zero to Infinity' symbolizes the potential for transformation and change. While the initial structure appears fixed and symmetrical, working together with others to rearrange the cubes shows that change is possible and that creativity can break free from rigid systems.