Some people see pattern everywhere, from nature to art to science. Does a shared awareness of pattern have the power to positively shape our world? Anna Murray and Grace Winteringham, co-founders of Patternity certainly think so. We discovered a world of everyday pattern with Anna in July's MOJEH.
By Natalie Trevis
There is beauty in the small things: a symmetrically paved street, a ridged leaf, polka dot t-shirt or sun dappled cloud, everyday patterns that bring a moment of positivity or gratitude into our busy lives. Patterns inform much of the human experience, from our understanding of the world we live in – mathematics is the science of patterns – to the wonder of the natural world and the aesthetics of what we wear, eat and drink. Patternity believe that the way we look at, hear or experience the small details can enhance our understanding of the wider world.
‘We are all inherently pattern-seeking creatures,’ says Anna Murray, co-founder of Patternity, which has grown from an online pattern archive to include a research and consultancy department, award-winning creative studio and a pioneering events and education hub. ‘People have learnt to understand and investigate the world through identifying patterns, or indeed identifying where they have been broken or don’t exist. From the shadows cast through railings on the pavement, to the Turing patterns seen on the skin of fish and cheetahs - pattern is undeniably everywhere, and it is through noticing these patterns that we can begin to question how things came to be, or even predict what might happen in the future.’ For Anna, pattern is a common thread that transcends the traditional boundaries between science, art and technology. ‘Pattern is a commonality that has the power to unite…from simple starting points such as the investigation of stripes or a spots, or the unseen patterns like sound waves.’
