Subspaces

Subspaces is a collection of highly detailed digital illustrations that focus on the mathematical concept of aperiodic tiling. Aperiodic tilings are subdivisions of a surface with no large-scale repetition. Each work presents a different element in a tiling and documents its evolution from a prototile to a 4th-generation aperiodic pattern. In the 20th century aperiodic tilings were described by modern mathematics, eventually being observed in the atomic lattice of aluminum alloys. Their development can be traced back to decorative girih, Persian for “knot,” that first appeared in Western Asia around 700 AD. Subspaces explores the rules that govern their construction, their aesthetic potential, and their cultural familiarity. Visitors were encouraged to study the work both from a distance and in detail to discover the rhythms, harmonies, and shared connections in these unique and elaborate digital objects.