What we teach

A graduate full-year course focused on intersections of mathematics, computers and aesthetics.

You will learn how to understand and criticize algorithmic creativity, and apply your skills in practical assignments.

The course is divided between lectures and assignments that follow lecture topics. Classes are supported by e‑learning activities. You are responsible for reading and watching provided materials and participating in class discussions.

You will pass the course after accomplishing half of assignments (50 points). For the final project (another 50 points) you may create your own application for visual creativity and present its aesthetic possibilities, or submit a research paper on any course topic. Extra points can be attributed for class activity.

Mathematical or programming background is appreciated. Artistic mind and creative effort are essential.

List of topics

Visual forms of software aesthetics  •  A brief history of computer art  •  Aesthetic functions — periodic & cyclic functions, superformula, randomness, probabilistic distributions, stochastic generators  •  Aesthetic transformations — geometric substitution & projection, stylized depiction  •  Aesthetic proportions — golden section in nature, arts & design  •  Context-free graphics — cellular automata, rewriting grammars  •  Graftals — models of growth in nature, L-systems  •  Fractal graphics — dynamics of complex plane, quaternion fractals, space-filling curves, iterated affine transformations, fractal flames, terrain modelling  •  Chaotic attractors — differential equations, dynamical systems  •  Knots — topology, graphs, spatial transformations  •  Periodic tiling — symmetry groups, colour symmetry, friezes, rosettes, wallpaper ornaments  •  Nonperiodic tiling — hierarchical, spiral, hyperbolic & aperiodic mosaics  •  Bio art — artificial life in art  •  Exact aesthetics — beauty in numbers, mathematical appraisal of form, structure & aesthetic message  •  Vision and depiction — seeing and understanding, colour theory, focus, perspective, image format & composition.

Grading

Total = 100 points

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