This piece is an homage to the mathematician Georg Alexander Pick, who is best known for his formula that determines the area of a lattice polygon. The central form in this piece is a polygonal shape created by connecting the dots that spell “Genocide is Evil” in braille. The simplicity of the form, and the choice of bold and primary colors used to fill the dots, suggests the innocence expected of childhood, as well as the moral and ethical obviousness of genocideʼs evil: Even a child knows when evil is at play. The underpinning of moral absolutism in this picture is an even more somber ode to Pick, who was tragically killed in the Holocaust.
Canvas and Acrylic Paint; 36" x 36"
1936 was interesting for theoretical maps but absolutely awful for the real map. 1936 was an awful year for the real map (ie our world). Germany seized back the Rhineland and made alliances with Japan and Italy. Italy conquered Ethiopia, the Spanish Civil War started and others. In math there were 1936 "interesting" configurations which were important to the proof of the iconic 4 color map problem (this is a theorem about coloring theoretical maps..an example of one would be the paintings’ sloppily colored circles which are connected with black lines and curves). The pictured map’s circular countries are braille-based in position to spell "vil" . The black E in front starts the word Evil. It also references an equation related to the proof of the 4 color map problem: Euler' s revolutionary polyhedron formula. The partially revealed partially braille word “evil” points to the world's "blindness" to the full extent of the evil in Germany, Japan, Italy etc (eg Neville Chamberlain).
The expression “did you do this” appears to point to a standard feeling some have when looking at some modern art whose appearance appears childlike orb “simple”: i could have done this. It actually references an anecdote where Picasso is asked by a German soldier, who is looking at the artist’s work Guernica, did you do this? To which Picasso responded no you did. Not literally of course but explaining the impetus to paint this frightening work was the brutality of the German armies bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War (referenced above). The childlike nature of the work points to several ideas: First while some ethics questions are hard. Even a child should understand the evil inherent to genocide and war crimes. Secondly, while very difficult to prove the 4 Color Theorem was easy to state and understand even for a child.
This piece wrestles with some of the theoretical models used to price financial derivatives. The letter “Q” is abstractly spelled in braille in the missing gaps of the uncompleted puzzle. Q is often the symbol of an important probability distribution which is used to price derivatives (see the handwritten sheet of paper for more information).
In many of the mathematical models used to price derivatives its assumed assets travel with a fractal behavior. This means the path "looks similar" at any scale. In this world the artist Franz Klines' process of painting would be rendered worthless. Kline was known for blowing up his figurative sketches to a scale where elements lost their figurative nature and instead had an abstract appearance. This abstract image would then form the basis for one of his iconic black and white paintings. To represent this i cross out his name.
In many of these models it’s assumed you can “hedge” the risk that is associated with the particular product. But unlike this world the real world is a more cruel evidenced by the fact that tragically one of the mathematicians who built one of the key links for these theoretical model died falling during a hike in Sayan Mountains.
In 2overcome the vertices of the simple shapes are positioned to spell words in braille. If braille marks were placed on these corners the word "overcome" would appear twice.The revolutionary formula 2 = v+f-e applies to each of these shapes as it does to all convex polyhedron-like forms. The simplicity of the formula belies it's universality and its importance. The words and the use of braile becomes more personal when reminded its author Leonhard Euler overcame eye problems, even blindness, to become one of the greatest mathematicians ever.
Finally, hidden in mathematical abstraction the painting hints at a deeply personal experience from Saiers childhood living in Afghanistan as the Russians invaded.
Canvas and Acrylic Paint; 36" x 36"