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 11:45 am for a 12:00 noon start. For those joining in-person, lunch will be served after the seminar from 1:00pm.

This event is hybrid format, please use the required booking button at the bottom of the page to choose either in-person or online attendance.
(Please note that in-person spaces are limited and booking is required, so we can manage numbers for catering and also the space in the seminar room)

By booking a place at this event, attendees agree to behave in a respectful manner such that everyone feels comfortable contributing as they wish. The IAS reserves the right to eject anyone who does not abide by this policy.

IAS seminars are typically recorded, minus any Q&A sessions at the end, again to encourage contributions. The recordings are then uploaded to our website on a Fellows bio page and/or Programme page, along with our IAS YouTube Channel. If you are not able to attend a seminar live, please do still register as we will email everyone who registered to let them know once the recordings are made available.