Interview: Krystyna Laycraft

Its not often you find a physicist who is actively engaged in creating art. Richard Feynman may sit in the kitchen the whole day long breaking spaghetti, but how many would consider that creating art? Arguably, he was pondering the question of why spaghetti doesn’t break in half, and not creating art.

Today’s math art feature, aside from the rambling above, is the interview of Krystyna Laycraft. We’ve featured two of Krystyna’s awesome artworks - Strange Attractor and Conciousness as a Strange Attractor, and now, we’re going to reveal more about this physicist and artist extraordinaire.

Math-Art (MA): Tell us about yourself
Krystyna Laycraft (KL):I grew up in Warsaw, Poland. After high school, I decided to study theoretical physics. At this time I was fascinated with the theory of relativity. It had a great influence on my imagination.

I studied five years at the University of Warsaw and received a master of science in theoretical physics. In early eighties I moved to Canada and continued my graduate studies at the University of Calgary. Later I worked as a scientist on nonlinear phenomena in astrophysics such as Aurora Borealis. This was a time when chaos theory, nonlinear dynamics, fractals, and self-organization were widely discussed and applied to a variety of physical, chemical, and mathematical problems.

Now, almost a quarter of a century later, I apply my knowledge of chaos theory to art and psychology. I give courses and workshops: “Chaos= Creativity”, “Chaos Theory and The Teen Brain”, and “Chaos Theory and How to Enrich Our Lives”

MA: Indeed, Chaos = Creativity. You’re a physicist, how did you get into the world of art?
KL: I have always loved art, in particular fine art, but I was too busy with my family and profession. At the University of Calgary I met a special person. I described her “mother on this continent.” She was an art professor and invited me to take an art course organized by her. After this bifurcation point, I devoted much of my time to art. Weekends I spent in the Rocky Mountains, observing, sketching, and photographing of trees, rocks, clouds and so on.

During a preparation of lectures and workshops I got “Aha” moment: I should paint concepts of the chaos theory! It took me two years (2005-2006). I have created forty paintings and exhibited at Art Point Gallery in Calgary, Alberta under the title “My Journey through the Chaos Theory.”

MA: Chaos theory is all around us. Art is all around us. As a physicist, without going down to the subatomic levels, can you attest to that?
KL : For me physics is art. I was lucky to work on beautiful physical phenomena. Through study physics and mathematics, I learnt to look deeper into problems and analyze more thoroughly.

MA: Sounds deep. What are your sources of inspiration?
KL: Nature, nature, nature.

MA: You mentioned an art professor whom you took an art course with. How much do you think she influenced you? Tell us more.
KL: She was an art professor at the Education and Art Faculties of the University of Calgary. She is very sensitive to the needs of other people and treats every individual as a special person. She sensed my potential to express myself in art and gave me tools to start me on this pathway. I admire her for this characteristic. Even now, when she is in poor health, she is still spontaneous and enthusiastic. She always finds energy to come for my exhibitions and give me professional advises.

Also, my father had a great influence on me. He taught me how to think and approach to mathematical and physical problems. I tried to use the methods of my father to teach my children. [Editor Notes: Krystyna’s daughter, Bogusia is also a mathematician. She runs a website called NucleusLearning, and has written a book called The First Book of Hexa-Trex Puzzles]

MA: And now you teach workshops on art and math as well. Tell us more about your workshops.
KL: Chaos theory fascinated me and I see a great application in everyone’s lives. This is why I want to share my knowledge and passion with people and help them to appreciate how this theory is a part of their lives. You can find more information about my workshops or lectures on my website.

For example, “Chaos Theory and Creativity” introduces the chaos theory and its applicability to life dynamics and creativity. I discuss the main concepts of chaos theory: complexity, nonlinearity, attractors, feedback, bifurcation points, and fractals. I analyze in detail neural processes of creativity and characteristic of creative people. We look at artworks of many artists like Turner, Monet, Cezanne, Mattise, Kahn, Onley, and others and discuss their work in view of chaos theory.

MA: Wow. Some brief questions now. What is your favourite medium?
KL: Actually, I use mixed media techniques which allows me to express my ideas in diverse and complex way. Previously I worked with soft pastels, and focused on skyscapes and treescapes.

MA: Favourite math artist?
KL: Escher

MA: Finally, what’s your opinion on maths arts (like mathematical arts in general)
KL: Math arts help in an integration of our brains between left-right hemispheres. Through this integration, we become more complex and more flexible human beings. In my opinion, through your website you are doing a great job in introducing a beauty of math and art together.