Sci-Art Competition "Anomalous Mathematical Patterns"

Sci-Art Competition "Anomalous Mathematical Patterns" is now open for entries!

Sci-Art Competition "Anomalous Mathematical Patterns" : The "Anomalous Mathematical Patterns", international sci-art competition recently organised by the Isaac Newton Institute, UK invites all artists worldwide who are 18 years old or older to participate.

➜ Short description

The "Anomalous Mathematical Patterns", international sci-art competition recently organised by the Isaac Newton Institute, UK invites all artists worldwide who are 18 years old or older to participate.

Some potential mathematical themes that could be explored are: (ir)regularity and anomaly of mathematical patterns, interacting particle systems, fluid and gas dynamics, random networks, reflecting processes, interacting random walks and their geometry, diffusive processes, kinetic art.

There are three competition categories:

➜ Photograph, painting, film, print, animation;
➜ Textile, sculpture or other medium;
➜ AI and computer-generated art.

The goals of the contest are to:

➜ showcase the interplay of mathematics (in particular of probability theory) and art in the modern world;
➜ explore the different ways in which artists and mathematicians approach mathematical concepts;
➜ find ways to communicate research in mathematics to as wide an audience as possible;
➜ inspire new generations towards mathematical education and training;
➜ potentially spark collaborations among and between mathematicians and artists.

The review criteria include:

➜ The art and its description should be an interpretation of the title of the contest "Anomalous Mathematical Patterns", and they must be connected to the mathematical themes as described on the "Stochastic systems for anomalous diffusion" programme website.

➜ Originality (Pushing the theme of Anomalous Mathematical Patterns in new directions.)

➜ Aesthetic appeal.

➜ The panel is particularly interested in art that affects a transformation in the eye of the viewer in translating or communicating the mathematical subject that they portray, and in conveying the deep structure and beauty of mathematics to the general public.

The 30 finalists will be notified of their status and will appear on the website in April 2025. Additionally, the participants at the program will be able to vote till the end of May 2025 for the Participants’ Choice Award. The winner of the People’s Choice Prize, the category winners and the Participants’ Choice Award will be revealed online at the end of May 2025.

➜ Submission requirements:

➜ To highlight the originality, the underlying mathematical inspiration and content of the work, each submission should be accompanied by an explanation of the mathematical significance of the work, which can be in free text or oral form, or in some other suitable format. This explanation is meant not only for the judges, but also for the general public, to highlight the mathematical content of the work, and it should be no more than 200 words.

➜ The submitted work can be in the form of photographs in digital form, or in other formats adapted for presentation in a mainstream art gallery.

➜ Up to 3 submissions per artist will be allowed. A submission can include more than one photo, or more than one artefact.

➜ Who may enter?

The contest is open to artists who are 18 years old or older.

➜ Prize:

➜ 1st Prize: £750 in each of the three categories
➜ Runner-up: £300 in each of the three categories
➜ Honourable mention: £150 in each of the three categories
➜ People’s Choice Prize: £750

The finalist entries may be exhibited in the UCL Cloisters, following the competition and throughout the Isaac Newton Institute building, Cambridge. Additionally, following the competition, the winners’ work may be exhibited in various museums in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.