Is geometry purely a mathematical subject?
How are you today creative bloggers? Throughout my life, I have observed that geometry is commonly viewed as a purely scientific subject, one that only a select few experts can truly understand and master. It is often associated exclusively with the field of mathematics, which is hardly surprising given that the RAE defines geometry as ‘the study of figures using a coordinate system and the methods of mathematical analysis’. However, geometry (like other branches of mathematics) is present in our daily lives and forms part of our artistic and cultural heritage.
If we look back to antiquity, the practice of geometry was an attempt to understand how the universe was organised and sustained. It follows from this idea that the practice of geometry, to a greater or lesser extent, shaped human endeavour (Federico et al., 2007). This means that ancient civilisations did not separate science from spirituality, so that geometry was not merely a technical tool (as many of us view it today) but a worldview that organised both the cosmos and the daily life of human beings.
On the other hand, we can also find geometry in religion, referred to as ‘sacred geometry’, which involves designs linked to religious worship. One of its main forms is the circle, one of the first symbols drawn by humankind. It is a form visible in Nature, symbolising wholeness and eternity, and representing the Universe. The square is another form of sacred geometry, symbolising commensurable unity and the stability of the world. In ancient constructions, it appears in ziggurats, pyramids and temples of various cultures, symbolising the transition between heaven and earth.
Figure 1
Flower of life.
In our daily lives, we can find geometry in our own homes and in the buildings that make up our city. As Federico et al. (2007) state, architecture and geometry form symbiotic relationships. These are so important that, to varying degrees, geometry is present in the creative process of any architectural design. Together, geometry and architecture form a creative unity; one is the instrument of the other.
As the artist and professor Wassily Kandinsky states, the primary shapes—the circle, triangle and square—are the source of artistic works, and he described geometric shapes as purely abstract entities which, as such, possess their own life, influence and power (Kandinsky, 2008). Many artists and educators have confirmed the value of introducing geometry to children, even in the early stages of education, through an artistic approach; as I mentioned in the previous post, children create their first drawings using geometric shapes that encapsulate what they wish to represent. We might say this is the basic unit of artistic expression within a child’s mind.
However, many artists turned to geometric forms to develop their work within movements such as abstraction and Cubism.
In conclusion, geometry has been present in numerous civilisations as a means of understanding the universe, including in a spiritual sense. It has also served as a tool for artistic creation, the study of perspective and human proportions, and has helped many artistic geniuses to develop their work. Furthermore, without geometry, architecture would not exist – and it is thanks to architecture that we have modern homes adapted to our needs. Ultimately, we can introduce geometry to children not as something to be feared, but as a way of seeing and understanding our world.
Federico, C. V., Díaz, N. A., & Arias Mercader, M. J. (2007). Enseñanza interdisciplinaria: geometría y arte. In I Jornadas de Enseñanza e Investigación Educativa en el campo de las Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (La Plata, 2007).Kandinsky, V. (2008). De lo espiritual en el arte. Paidós.
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