When Math Meets Art | Arvind Sundar | TEDxKCT

Arvind Sundar, a contemporary artist working with geometry, mathematics and cosmology, examines how mathematics, chance and art intersect. The talk draws on temple architecture, chess, coding and traditional Indian crafts, moving from ancient game boards in Hampi to algorithmic chess structures and collaborative craftsmanship. It considers how patterns, probability and complexity shape both artistic expression and human thought. The talk is presented as part of the TEDxKCT event, organized independently by a local community.

• Ancient game boards in Hampi and temple architecture
• Chess, coding and algorithmic structures
• Patterns, probability and complexity in art
• Collaborative traditional Indian craftsmanship

What happens when mathematics, chance, and art begin to intersect? Drawing from temple architecture, chess, coding, and traditional Indian crafts, Arvind Sundar explores how patterns, probability, and complexity shape both artistic expression and human thought. Through a journey that moves from ancient game boards in Hampi to algorithmic chess structures and collaborative craftsmanship, this talk reveals the unexpected connections between logic, creativity, and the hidden mathematics embedded in the world around us. Arvind Sundar is a contemporary artist exploring geometry, mathematics, and cosmology as systems to understand infinity, order, and uncertainty. Working across drawing, painting, sculpture, and installation, he translates grids, ratios, and sequences into meditative visual forms through rule-based processes balancing control and chance. He holds an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Cincinnati (2018) and completed advanced coursework at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He was awarded the Wolstein Travel Fellowship to study Renaissance art in Italy. Sundar has exhibited across India, the United States, Europe, and South Korea, including at the Contemporary Art Centre (Cincinnati), Art Dubai, Cholamandal Artists’ Village, and the Busan Art Fair. He has also participated in India Art Fair. His solo exhibitions include COSMOS (2024) and Chasing Infinity (2025), exploring chess, mathematics, and cosmic systems. He has delivered talks at ICTS Bengaluru. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx