Created in 2010, 72 15x15 cm individual paintings each representing one number from 1 to 72 combine to form my
Prime Marks artwork.
Moving left to right, a painting's depicted value increases 1 at a time. For example the top row in this layout represents values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; then in the second row 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and so on.
Each prime number is substituted with a unique icon, and displaying their factors, a distinct combination of these prime icons form each non-prime number. As you can see, prime 2 is represented by a yellow chevron and 3 by a red triangle. Non-prime 6 is represented by both a yellow chevron
and a red triangle to show it is formed by its prime factors 2 and 3 (2x3=6).
Following the same left to right logic, the canvases can be arranged in different rectangular arrangements each time revealing a new icon pattern.
Featured in American Scientist article -
Ode to Prime Numbers by Sarah Glaz - Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Connecticut
