Representation in Numbers

Counting the days

Are you able to figure out the artist's birthday just from knowing how many days she has been alive? Why or why not?

Can you calculate how many days you have been alive? Have you passed 5,000 days? How did you calculate your age in days?

Future Astronomers Illuminated William Ross State High School This artwork focuses on viewing constellations.

When you look up at the stars, you are looking at positive and negative space.

Have a look at M. C. Escher’s artwork to the right and how elements of the image change in positive verses negative space.

William Ross State High School Future Astronomers Illuminated Metal, wood, acrylic, solar light circuitry, fabric 300 x 500 x 500 cm Photograph: Andrew Rankin Photography

M. C. Escher Sky and Water I 1938 Woodcut print 43.5 × 43.9 cm

Indigenous Australian cultures have long had complex knowledge of the stars. In some cases, it is the dark spaces that have names, rather than the bright spaces. Do some research to find out more about Indigenous astronomy.