Botanica Mathematica is a textile taxonomy of mathematically-inspired plant forms. Its creators, Julia Collins and Madeleine Shepherd, have combined ideas from D’Arcy Thompson’s On Growth and Form, computer science, fractals and hyperbolic geometry. The specimen collection consists mainly of crowd-sourced contributions of Binary Bonsai trees. Generative instructions and algorithmic knitting patterns are the genetic code of these creations; textile techniques are their metabolism. These patterns were released into the wild to evolve and change as makers around the world interpreted them. The elegant structures, rich textures and fascinating patterns that arise have been collected and classified, with the aid of taxonomist Jo Macrae, as if they were specimens in a botanical herbarium. Throughout June, a selection of Binary Bonsai, Fibonacci Flowers and Hyperbolic Chanterelles will be on display in the D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum (open Fridays 2 - 4.30pm over the summer).

For this special workshop, we invite you to come and make your own Binary Bonsai with Botanica Mathematica artist Madeleine Shepherd. Take it home or contribute it to the growing woolly herbarium that is on display in the museum. Madeleine will give a short introduction to the project and the ideas behind its creation and then we'll have fun with fibre generating trees and flowers by applying some simple rules.

Yarn and some tools will be provided by Dundee’s own independent yarn store, Fluph. Please bring your own set of double-pointed needles so if you don't finish your Binary Bonsai at the workshop you'll be able to take it home.

Attendance is free but places are limited and must be booked in advance using Eventbrite.