These tessellating artists employed a style called “zellige”, which had its roots in the Islamic belief in universal intelligence, the artists tried to portray the laws that preside over the universe.īefore we can further discuss examples of tessellation art, it is important to mention the intrinsic connection between art, mathematics, and science. Islamic zellige mosaic ceramic tile tessellations in Marrakech, Morocco Ian Alexander, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsĪside from applying stylistic tessellation ideas to their architecture, they also designed their pottery and textiles with tessellation patterns. Islamic art forbids the representation of living forms, so it was the perfect environment for a style to develop that was based on the application of geometric shapes. Specifically the regions of North Africa, Maghreb, and the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. The finest examples of tessellation patterns in architecture and art can be found in Islam. Not only was the geometry of tessellation patterns fascinating to the tessellating artists, but intellectuals too began to show a deep interest in the mathematical structure of these tessellating patterns found from the Middle Ages and through the 19th century. Many of these designs have regional characteristics, which make them unique to the people and culture they originated from. Modern archeologists have uncovered many beautiful examples of tessellation art created by the Sumerian civilization, where it then spread to many other ancient civilizations such as the Romans, Chinese, Greek, Egyptians, Arabs, Moors, and Persians. The use of tessellation patterns in temples and homes can be traced back to sometime in 4,000 BC in Sumeria. Tessellation pattern of a street pavement in Zakopane, Poland Dmharvey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons This hints at the historical use of tessellation ideas that stretch far back into our history when small tiles made of glass, stone, or clay were used to create patterns on public and domestic surfaces. The word derives from the Latin word tessellātus (square small stones) and the Greek word tessera (four). The use of tessellation ideas and concepts throughout our history has resulted in the creation of beautifully decorated architecture, such as temples and mosques, as well as magnificent works of art.Īn understanding of ancient languages in history can help one better understand the tessellation definition. Also known as tiling, this process results in a mosaic pattern that can be used in a highly creative manner, despite its largely confining mathematical structure. What is Tessellation? Tessellation art is created through the process of covering a surface with a number of geometric shapes that fit together almost like a jig-saw puzzle, never overlapping and leaving no spaces between them. 3.2 Are People Still Creating Tessellation Art Today?.Escher’s Work Considered to Be Tessellation Art? 1.1 A Brief History of Tessellation Patterns.Is it true that any hexagon of this form will tessellate? How do you know?Ĭlick below for a hint that might help you get started. Now let's consider hexagons with three adjacent angles which add up to $360^$, sandwiched by two sides of equal length, as in the diagram below: Can you tessellate them?ĭo all hexagons of this form tessellate? How do you know? You can print off some square dotty paper, or some isometric dotty paper, and try drawing hexagons of this form on it. You could also draw some hexagons using this interactive. What about a hexagon where each pair of opposite sides is parallel, and opposite sides are the same length, but different pairs of sides are not the same length? Here is a tessellation of regular hexagons:Ĭan you explain why regular hexagons tessellate? It was inspired by a problem in "Tiles and Tiling", an activity book published by the Association of Teachers of Mathematics. This problem follows on from some of the ideas in Tessellating Triangles and Tessellating Quadrilaterals.
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