Children learn with Da Vinci and soap films.
Leonardo da Vinci, known for paintings such as Mona Lisa, “married art with mathematics” and used many elements of science in his works, more than 500 years ago, said UFF researcher Simon Chiossi, at the National Mathematics Festival. The focus of the lecture, this Friday (30), was Da Vinci’s role as a scientist and the influence of science on his art.
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In addition to presenting illustrations of machines created by Da Vinci – such as a helicopter design, a device for launching stones, and a crossbow – Chiossi displayed examples of the artist's works using perspective. "What's most impressive is how he manages to combine art with mathematics," explained Chiossi.
He showed images that create optical illusions through perspective, such as a photo in which a person pushes the Leaning Tower of Pisa with their foot, and another in which the painting of a pedestrian crossing gave the impression of objects floating.
Chiossi also spoke about the context of the time in which the Renaissance genius lived, and explained that artists were hired to design war machines. He also displayed realistic illustrations made by Da Vinci. "His ultimate goal was to understand the human body, to then represent it in painting. He was a painter, but he was primarily a scientist," he said, while displaying the Vitruvian Man engraving, which represents the ideal proportions of the human body.
Film, not soap bubbles.
Researcher Celso Costa, from UFF (Federal Fluminense University), used soap films, something all children enjoy playing with, to demonstrate geometry concepts. Right at the beginning of his lecture, he clarified that he was dealing with films, not soap bubbles: "A bubble is a closed thing, and a film is open."
Addressing an audience of primary and secondary school students and teachers, Costa cited practical examples of the surfaces. "When the film forms, it tries to settle in such a way that the tension is minimal," he said.
He also presented the Costa Surface, named after him and one of the so-called "minimal surfaces." The concept defines three-dimensional surfaces where any two points are interconnected by infinite curves. The researcher recounted that he discovered the surface, which would bear his name, in 1982: "It will be 40 years. I am very happy to be able to talk about something from that time."
