Looking Outwards 06

Kenneth Martin’s Chance and Order incorporates aspects of randomness through a combination of chance events and artistic decisions. In order to create each pair of lines, Martin draws numbers (two at a time), randomly from a bag starting counter-clockwise. I admire the pure simplicity of the piece, along with the concrete repetition of lines across the canvas. Chance and Order offers a new perspective of the scientific and artistic world through incorporating creative elements and those of mathematical probability.

The points of intersection on the art are also written and randomly chosen from small cards, and a line is made between each successful pair of numbers picked out. The title, “Chance and Order” also symbolizes the greater process behind the work, a product of random events and ordering procedures. I admire Martin’s ability to hand-draw so precisely, and create these nearly computer-generated forms of media in the collections.

Hannah Wyatt