Blueprints: how mathematics shapes creativity

Description

Free. No registration required Nomos Alpha by Iannis Xenakis performed by cellist Alfia Bekova with visuals performed by Marcus du Sautoy We often see art and mathematics as opposites—emotion versus logic—but in this talk, Marcus du Sautoy reveals a deep and surprising connection between them that spans a vast historical and geographic landscape. He explores how mathematical ideas like fractals, prime numbers, and symmetry shape human creativity, from Shakespeare to Radiohead, from Pollock to the Marvel Universe. The talk will conclude with a live performance by cellist Alfia Bekova of Nomos Alpha by the Greek composer Iannis Xenakis who used the symmetries of the cube as the blueprint for his composition. Using animations created in collaboration with artist Simon Russell, Marcus will explain an interesting new group theoretic idea that arises from the composition.

Venue

Oxford University Faculty of Music

Oxford University Faculty of Music, Holywell St, Oxford OX1 3SD

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Source: Original venue listing

Last updated: 30 April 2026 at 06:32

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