Drawing on Glide Reflection Symmetry

Glide reflection is one of three types of symmetry that plane tessellations can possess. If such a tessellation glides along a particular distance and then reflects about that line, it will perfectly overlap itself. This print plays on this fact, with an endless array of pencil-wielding hands arranged with the same symmetry as the drawing they are coloring. Two colors of tiles (dragons) would have been sufficient to ensure that no two adjacent tiles have the same color, but such a coloring would have broken the symmetry. Three colors are needed to both ensure that no two adjacent tiles have the same color and that glide reflection symmetry is maintained. "Drawing on Glide Reflection Symmetry" is a limited edition of 50 prints executed in 2005; the image size is 10" x 11".


Copyright 2005 Robert Fathauer
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