The idea behind the IMAGINARY exhibition is – as the name suggests – to use the visual and aesthetic component of mathematics as an eye-catcher in order to explain the visitors the mathematical backgrounds in an interactive manner.
The exhibition consists of a gallery of interesting and beautiful mathematical images taken from algebraic geometry. They are presented at a size of 85 x 85 cm on acryl glass and can be gazed at in a walk-in aluminium cube, the IMAGINARY cube. Each image is provided with a table which explains mathematical properties and how the image was generated. The important elements of the images, such as singularities, are described. On the other hand, interactive installations at the exhibition invite the visitors to take mathematical artistic action themselves. For this purpose the Surfer program was designed to calculate, indicate and change algebraic surfaces in real time. Visitors can enter and change polynomial equations on a large touchscreen with their fingers, shift parameters, determine the colours of the surfaces and turn the figures as they like.
The IMAGINARY travelling exhibition was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2007-2009). A number of private persons, firms, universities and institutions have campaigned for the exhibition to be implemented in the Year of Mathematics. Thank you very much to all who supported the exhibition!
For more information: www.laboralcentrodearte.org