Sensual mathematics

The final exhibition of a transdisciplinary course at Aalto University, was a display of three-dimensional artwork created to enhance and showcase the interaction between scientific and artistic practices. It aimed to break clichés related to mathematics by bringing deep phenomena in the field to the level of human experience. Open-minded collaboration across the conventional barriers between disciplines enabled the pursuit of diverse goals. The exhibition also presented inspiring examples and ideas for new directions in education, from early childhood to research level. Students in the course come from different schools of Aalto from freshmen to PhD students. ‘Sensual Mathematics’ was an expression of an intimate, inseparable relation between the sensual and the rational approaches of each team of students towards low-dimensional geometry and topology. In this paper we describe the successful half-year student exhibition as well as future plans to enhance the interaction between mathematics and arts.