Join Professor Marcus du Sautoy for this talk at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences as he reveals a deep and surprising connection between art and maths, spanning history and geography.
We often see art and mathematics as opposites – emotion versus logic – but mathematician Marcus du Sautoy will reveal a deep and surprising connection between them in this talk. He will explore how mathematical ideas such as symmetry, prime numbers and the golden ratio shape human creativity: from the earliest stone circles to the modernist architecture of Le Corbusier; from Bach’s circular compositions to Radiohead’s disruptive soundscapes; and from Shakespeare’s hidden numerical clues to the Dada artists who embraced randomness. Instead of mathematics and the arts being polar opposites, Marcus will explore how a complementary relationship exists between them that spans vast historical and geographical landscapes.
About the speaker
Marcus du Sautoy is Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, Fellow of New College, Oxford and author of popular mathematics and popular science books.
How to book
This free public talk is part of the 2026 Cambridge Festival. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked: book tickets online here.