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 Nature
Geometry in Nature and in Art
displays an infinite array of geometric
shapes. Many of the shapes found in nature
have been used by man to create beautiful
art forms used in their art, religion, buildings
and culture.
From observing nature, people have created art forms with
these patterns in their work. Mandalas and knot designs are
forms of geometric art that have been used for centuries in
many cultures of the world.
The Hindus of India have used a circular mandala for
meditation. Circular mandalas are believed to symbolize the
entire universe. Buddhist and Hindu monks use this art form to
create a “container of essence”.
Knot designs are widely found in African culture (Sona
Drawings), in European culture as Celtic Art, and in Japenese
and Chinese Culture as lattice designs.
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
The Aztecs used the mandala to create the Aztec calendar.
At the center of the stone mandala was a mask of the sun
god. Surrounding the mask were symbols depicting an
earthquake that the Aztecs believed would end the world.
Around that was a band of with signs for the days of the
calendar year.

Other Native American cultures also used the mandala in
their healing practices and art. For example, the Navajo
create sand paintings used by the Navajo singers in healing
rituals.

Knots have been used by different cultures for centuries to
record events and keep records. In Peru, the native people
(INCAS) kept track of populations and flocks using a system called
a Quipu. The Quipu-maker was an important person in the village
because he was responsible for recording the information of the
village. He recorded it on rope using a series of knots.

In Africa, the people use Sona drawings with knot and weave
designs to tell stories to the children and teach them the ways of
the culture.

In Southern India, knot designs on the gates and doorways are
called Kolams. These maze designs are meant to prevent evil
spirits from entering the home.
 Some
of the oldest examples of knot designs
are found in Celtic Art. These art forms are
found in stone in England and Scotland.
 Today
a very familiar knot design is found in
the logo of the Olympic Games. It is the
Olympic interconnecting rings.
During the Renaissance there was a revival in “realistic” drawings.
Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael portrayed spatial
relationships on their canvases so that the art form looked as
thought you were looking through a window and seeing it in 3
dimension.
In Modern Art, artists began to experiment with optical art using
geometric patterns. Optical art is abstract art that uses straight
lines or geometric patterns to create a special visual effect.
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 The
most common geometric characteristic
found in nature and in art is symmetry.
Symmetry means balance, harmony, equal
proportioned. Flowers, fish, birds and many
other natural objects are symmetrical. The
human body has bilateral symmetry.
 Reflectional
symmetry: A design has
reflectional symmetry if it can be folded
along a line called the line of symmetry.
 Rotational
symmetry: A design has rotational
symmetry if it can be traced and rotated
around a point.
 Point
symmetry: A design has point symmetry
if it can be made to coincide with itself after
a half turn.
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