Cutting-edge 2D multifractal techniques reveal the depth of Pollock's expressionism. An intriguing article by Dr. Hab. Rafał Rak, UR professor from the Institute of Physical Sciences UR

 

A group of scientists, including prof. Rafał Rak  from the Institute of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Faculty of Exact and Technical Sciences, has published an intriguing article.

It proposes an innovative, practical computational algorithm that allows for detecting hierarchical, multifractal organization of two-dimensional structures, and identifying possible directional asymmetry of this complexity. Among others, photographs of the surface of Mars, the Crab Nebula, and works by the famous painter Jackson Pollock have been put under the 'multifractal magnifying glass'. Scientists emphasize that multifractal analysis has a chance to find its place in the analysis of works of art as a tool supporting the determination of the authenticity of paintings, identification of their authorship, classification of the workshop of masters of the brush, and perhaps even in the valuation and determination of the authorship of works.

 

The main goal of the publication published in the journal "Chaos" was to present a new statistical tool and demonstrate its usefulness. The authors are currently working on further improvement of the proposed multifractal procedures and expansion of their functionality.

 

Original article data:

"Quantifying multifractal anisotropy in two dimensional objects"

R. Rak, S. Drożdż, J. Kwapień, P. Oświęcimka

Chaos 34, 103137 (2024)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0231211

 

Press releases about article:

https://press.ifj.edu.pl/news/2025/01/15/

https://pan.pl/nowe-narzedzia-multifraktalne-2d-zglebiaja-ekspresjonizm-pollocka/

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1070719

https://scienmag.com/cutting-edge-2d-multifractal-techniques-uncover-the-depths-of-pollocks-expressionism/