Fibonacci
Sequence
ART, DESIGN AND AESTHETICS
Project Brief
Curating an exhibition based on the chosen topic
and documenting the process.
End term submission for Art Design and Aesthetics
for Foundation programme, NIFT Bengaluru.
Under the guidance of Faculty Nithya Venkataraman.
Research, Analysis and Documentation done by
Lipti Rao.
The Sequence Story
“Once, a curious baby snail sitting among the plants
asked one of her flower friends, “How Is it that we
both do not have any feature in common, yet we both
look beautiful?” To this a red petunia among them
smiled and replied—”We do have one common
feature. The underlying algorithm in all of us is the
same which is the Fibonacci sequence. This sequence
is what makes your spiral shell and my five petal
arrangement look beautiful and pleasing to the eye.“
The basic algorithm of this sequence is -- obtaining
the next number from the sum of the current and the
previous number, starting from 0 and 1 (eg. 0+1= 1)
This geometric pattern is observed in many natural
objects around us.
What inspired me to take up this topic for my project
was the picture of a sunflower. The beautiful pattern
in which the seeds were arranged inspired me and I
could see geometric patterns everywhere in nature
after that. I felt like this could become a bridge
between students and ‘dreaded’ maths by
showing them how geometry and sequences
can bring out such beautiful patterns.
Understanding the Audience
The audience chosen for this project is School students
(both primary and secondary).
School students feel that maths is a burden because they do
not realise that maths is everywhere around them.
Since the age group of my target audience is between 6-16
years, the exhibition will be based on something that they can
connect to and something that will be interactive so that they
are willing to learn more about it.
The students spend most of their day in school. So the space
I have chosen is the entrance of a school. The first thing kids
will see when they enter is the exhibition which will make them
curious and excited to learn.
Secondary school students
pursuing maths
Primary school students
Students interested
in arts
Teachers in
schools
01 RESEARCH
Research
TO FIND PRESENCE OF THE SEQUENCE
IN MATHS AND ART
When the squares of the Fibonacci Sequence are
arranged together and a curved line is drawn
through each diagonal, it forms a Spiral. This
mathematically formed fibonacci spiral is used to
create art like the cat’s posture or it can be used to
discover the structural geometry of a shell.
So we can see art in maths and maths in art.
IN POETRY AND MUSIC
Poets, especially Sanskrit poets, used to use
the fibonacci numbers to write poetry since
ages (Long before this sequence was discov-
ered by Fibonacci, it was used in poetries by
sanskrit scholars like Pingala)
Many compositions in Sanskrit are pleasing to
the ears because they follow this golden
sequence.
There are many compositions done in music
that follow the fibonacci sequence. One area I
explored in music was Tabla, which has
been significantly influenced by this sequence.
IN NATURE
There are numerous examples of the Fibonacci
Sequence in and around us. In leaves, flowers,
fruits, vegetables and even human beings.
The reason why we find this sequence in so
many places is because of it efficiency. It is
observed that when anything (say the seeds of
a flower) is arranged in this sequence, it
results in the most optimum arrangement
along with full potential for growth.
This sequence can often be found in the
arrangement of leaves around a stem. This
maximises the space for each leaf and can be
found in the closely packed leaves of succu-
lents as well as cabbages, which have a similar
‘golden spiral’ formation. it’s also thought to
help maximise sun exposure in some instanc-
es. For similar reasons, branching plants also
exhibit Fibonacci numbers, providing the
maximum space for the number of branches,
while again maximising sun exposure.
“In this Universe, all is energy, and all is SELF-SIMILAR,
or reflective of the rest.”
“Fractal patterns created using the golden ratio are “Indian art is an imitation of nature in its
optimized in a way that does not occur with any other fundamental skeletal geometry, in terms of how it is
number.” built within itself.”
02 ANALYSIS
Brainstorming
Hidden Geometry Optimum
Tabla
Pattern
Sequence Music
Ratio Flora
Spiral
Growth
Rythm Fractal
Harmony
Self-reflective
Movement
Keywords
Derived for design direction
Hidden geometry Flora Movement
Elements
Visual Elements
Repetition + Flora + Movement
Floral Mandala
The colour scheme for the exhibition is mainly warm colours Analogous
with one cool shade of green.
The analogous colour scheme (consisting of the colours red, orange and
yellow here) is found abundantly in nature. The inspiration of this topic first
came from a sunflower which is also yellow.
This colour scheme brightens up a room and is perfect for a place like
school.
Auditory Elements
Rhythm + Geometry
Tabla Music
“Rhythmic but not monotonous”
Healing hand drum + tabla music on loop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXdmYhb8oFs
This music will be playing on loop in the background of the
exhbition to bring the exhibition alive and attract attention.
Also, since the Fibonacci sequence is already present in the
tabla beats, the auditory experience will perfectly compliment
the visual one.
Tactile Elements
Pattern + Movement
Contour
“Has a hidden geometric pattern”
The tactile experience for the exhibition will be made of handmade
paper layers to give a contour feel.
It will be arranged in a way that it has hidden geometry which cannot be
seen but felt with touch.
Other materials would be wood, cotton fabric, and waste dried leaves.
03 IDEATION
Ideation
For the Focal point of exhibition
Visual element of mandala and the
keyword movement gave me an
imagery of a spinning girl/doll, viewed
from top. I felt that this could be
made into the focal point of my
product so I decided to go forward
with it.
The question arised as to how to use
fibonacci sequence in this product
idea. So, using the keyword hidden
geometry, I decided that all the
numbers present on the product will
be fibonacci sequence numbers.
Also taking floral and fibonacci, the top
view of the product will be a flower.
As I had decided to use the entrance
of a school for my exhibition, it gave
me another idea. Spiral stairs near
the entrance could be used to further
show Fibonacci. Firstly because
spiral represents the sequence and
second because when the students
climb up the stairs, they can see the
doll transforminng into a flower, which
will add a fun interactive element to
the whole exhibition.
04
EXHIBITION
Exhibition Space
Description
staircase
pillar
product
(focal point)
staircase railing
Given here is the Aerial view of the floorplan for the exhibition.
This is 8 ft X 8 ft area of the school (entrance)
The staircase (which are spiral) lead to the classes. The product is placed in such a way
that the students can view it from the top while climbing and it will look like a flower.
Product
Prototype of the focal point
This prototype is made using a waste Appy
bottle, old cloth sewed into pleats and dress,
rubber band and incense sticks. Different set of
materials will be used in the actual exhibition.
The analogous colour scheme is kept in mind
while making the prototype.
On the left is the front view and given below is
the top view of the product. From the front it
looks like a dancing doll while from the top it
looks like a flower.
3D rendered view
Entrance of an imaginery school
Measurments
( 8 ft X 8 ft space)
Wooden mannequin
(Main body)
1 ft Overall height: 3 ft
Base diameter: 1 ft
Head gear height: 1 ft
1/2 ft Head gear diameter: 1/2 ft
1 ft 3 ft
Cotton dress
1 ft Overall height: 2 ft
(Top 1, Bottom 1)
1 ft
Skirt diameter: 2 ft
3 ft (including pleats)
2 ft Top diameter: 1 ft
5 ft
3 ft
8 ft Handmade Paper base
5 ft Base 1: 3 ft X 3 ft
Base 2: 5 ft X 5 ft
Base 3: 8 ft X 8 ft
8 ft
20 leaves for
spreading on the ground
Final look
Foreground: Background: Sound: Lighting:
Entrance of the school. Preferably a plain background Speaker to be placed on two Provision of natural sunlight
Nothing to be placed in the like a wall. Presence of lift is sides of the exhibition without on the product. No extra
foreground. acceptable. causing ditraction. lights needed.
Poster to promote the exhibition in future
Thank You!
