Pythagorean Machine Portrait 4

Pythagoras' Theorem Steampunk Mathematical Machine. Pythagoras' Theorem relates the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle and says that the... more

by Russell Kightley

Title

Pythagorean Machine Portrait 4

Artist

Russell Kightley

Medium

Digital Art

Description

Pythagoras' Theorem Steampunk Mathematical Machine. Pythagoras' Theorem relates the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle and says that the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the longest side, opposite the right angle) equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides. The squares of the sides of the triangle are shown as coloured glass windows with brass frames. This image is a still taken from an animation which shows the hypotenuse rotating about its left point and so describing a series of right angled triangles.

This view has a steep perspective suggesting the viewpoint of a person standing at the foot of a large fairground attraction or of an industrial machine. The large cogs create almost abstract sweeps across the canvas with the bright primary colours at odds with the clockwork structure. The structure looks as if it might be a receiver of distant signals or equally that it might send signals like a giant semaphore, with the upper wheel facing the distance.

Uploaded

August 29th, 2012