Source: FORMA, Volume- 15, No. 2, pp-
127-132
Abstract
Patterns in nature result from
dynamic relationships of forces and constraints. What is analogous for patterns
in art? Art is created by human hands motivated by inspiration and thought. It
is the product of creativity and skill. Creativity is constrained by cognitive processes and skill by the limits of technology. Based upon the authors studies of Oriental
carpets, this paper suggests that patterns in art result from dynamic relationships
of choices and constraints.
Typically, traditional Oriental
carpets from historical rug-weaving regions of the world exhibit a multiplicity
of patterns-field patterns and border patterns that express a vast array of
designs and various possibilities for their repetition in linear arrangement or
to cover a plane.
In classical Oriental carpets, the
repetition of a design to cover a pattern is accomplished by counting and
repeating sequences of knots. This paper explores dynamic relationships of
choices and constraints, by which weavers have used both symmetry and symmetry-breaking
to transform repetitive patterns into great works of art.
Keywords: Oriental Carpets, Islamic Art,
Symmetry, Symmetry-Breaking, Pattern Formation
Question: In what ways are the seashell and
the Oriental carpet (Fig. 1) similar?
Fig. 1: Carpet with field surrounded
by borders. Iran, 17th century. The Textile Museum (R33.1.3)
Answer: They both have patterns that grow
only along the leading edge; hence, they both preserve in their visual aspect a
history of their growth.
But there is more to this answer
than meets the eye. Beyond the visual aspect of the completed pattern, no
matter how regular or irregular, there is another aspect that also has to do
with the dimension of time. In the case of the seashell, pattern formation is
the result of forces and constraints. The multifarious combination of forces
and constraints leads to a wealth of patterns that can be seen in shells
(MEINHARDT, 1995). And it is the dynamic relationship of forces and constraints
that leads to the relative irregularity in the visual aspect of each shell.
