The hidden art in things breaking apart

Abstract

This article explores the hidden structures that emerge when materials break apart, revealing unexpected connections between natural processes, mathematics, and art. In particular, it examines Alberto Burri’s Grande cretto nero, whose fracturing evokes hyperbolic geometry reminiscent of Poincaré’s models and Escher’s tessellations. Through this interdisciplinary journey, the article shows how close attention to seemingly trivial phenomena can inspire profound insights across science and art.