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Our artwork strives to incorporate both the beauty and intrinsic order that nature provides. Our natural shapes undergo a mathematical process called fractal analysis to ensure they possess the beneficial properties that the research on fractal dimension provides. All of our images have therefore been designed with a mid-range fractal dimensions.
It is well known fact that we are positively impacted by the exposure to nature. Studies show that incorporating nature images in built environments may improve attention, learning, and cognitive function. By combining the findings of natural shapes and mid-range fractal dimensions we are aim to reap the maximum benefits in these studies.
Integer dimensions such as 1D, 2D or 3D are the basis for important man-made constructs however they fall short when expressing the visual qualities of a shape found in nature. A fractal dimension is a dimension that lives within fractions of the integer dimensions. It was created as an attempt to provide a more useful measure of natural shapes. It can be used to indicate roughness or jaggedness. So, if a line is a one-dimensional shape, a solid square is a two-dimensional shape, what would a fractal mid-range dimension represent on a page? Well, this is exactly what our team has been able to generate. Shapes with in this fractal dimension range indicate a specific way the shape fills the space.
Shape perception is a very important and mostly unconscious function of daily life. We are constantly scanning our environment and processing visual information to make sense of a world that is built with linear and unnatural shapes. Richard Taylor’s research finds that there are quantifiable benefits to exposing ourselves to images with specific fractal dimension. In his research he finds that images with mid-range fractal dimension are found to induce a state of wakeful relaxation in the brain by providing the eye a break from processing geometrical shapes.
Our project is based on the following studies:
Dockrill, P. (2016) "Just Looking at Photos of Nature Could Be Enough to Lower Your Work Stress Levels". Science Alert, 23 March.
Gamble, KR,Howard, JH, Howard, DV (2014). "Not just scenery: Viewing nature pictures improves executive attention in older adults", Exp Aging Res. vol. 40, no. 5 pp. 513–530.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4929355/
Herman Miller, "Nature based design – the new green".
https://www.hermanmiller.com/research/categories/white-papers/nature-based-design-the-new-green/
Mooney, C (2015), "Just looking at nature can help your brain work better, study finds", The Washington Post, 27 May.
Simion, MR (2016). "A new way to reduce stress and to improve educational workspaces", Global Journal of Psychology Research, vol. 6, no. 1. pp. 20-30 Accessed from Salingaros, N (2012). "Fractal Art and Architecture Reduce Physiological Stress", Journal of Biourbanism, no. 2.
Salingaros, N (2012). "Fractal Art and Architecture Reduce Physiological Stress", Journal of Biourbanism, no. 2.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c856/9c59a75f487882f26ecb3920eeaa94ac0b5e.pdf
Taylor, RP, Spehar, B, Wise, JA, Clifford, CWG, Newell, BR, Hagerhall, CM, Purcell, T, Martin, TP (2005). "Perceptual and Physiological Responses to the Visual Complexity of Fractal Patterns", Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences, vol. 9, no. 1.
Taylor, R (2017) "Fractal patterns in nature and art are aesthetically pleasing and stress-reducing". The Conversation, 31 March.
Vogel, S & Schwabe, L. (2016). "Learning and memory under stress: implications for the classroom", npj Science of Learning, vol. 1.
https://www.nature.com/articles/npjscilearn201611
Williams, F & Aeon (2017). "Why Fractals Are So Soothing". The Atlantic, 26 January.
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/01/why-fractals-are-so-soothing/514520/