IAS Seminar: Fractals: Patterns Bridging Mathematics and the Arts

Royal Society Wolfson Fellow Professor José Ferreira Alves delivers a seminar on their research.

Fractals and chaotic dynamics reveal how complex structures emerge from simple rules, often exhibiting self-similarity across multiple scales. This talk offers an accessible overview of the mathematical foundations of fractals - self-similarity, scaling laws, and fractal dimension - illustrated with classical examples such as the Sierpiński gasket, the Koch snowflake, and the Mandelbrot and Julia sets. Beyond mathematics, we examine how fractal geometry appears in natural landscapes, artistic practice, and cultural expression. Case studies include the fractal analysis of Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings, hierarchical organisation in Bach’s music, and multi-scale patterns in the poetry of Wallace Stevens and Borges. These examples show how fractal principles provide a coherent framework for interpreting complexity, perception, and creative structure across disciplines.

Arrivals from 11.45am for a 12pm start. For those joining in-person, lunch will be served after the seminar from 1pm.