Monday 28 November 2011, 6.15pm, MS0.2, Maths and Stats Building (Zeeman Building).

The Mathematics Institute will host a lecture by Dutch mathematician, Hendrik Lenstra, from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Leiden. Professor Lenstra will look at Escher’s 1956 work The Print Gallery, which depicts a swirling impossible world centred around a mysterious hole in the middle of the image.

The event, which is free and open to all, is part of a series which aims to open up the world of mathematics to the general public. Professor Sebastian van Strien of the University of Warwick’s Mathematics Institute, who is co-organising the event, said the lecture would offer a fascinating insight into how art and mathematics work together.

“People often think of mathematics as something extremely specialised and abstract which is just not relevant to their daily lives. But the opposite is in fact true – mathematics runs through so much, whether it’s the banking system or the music we listen to. It’s not often you see mathematics and art together on the same bill but Escher’s works are a great illustration of how the two are interlinked.”

Refreshments will be served in the Main Atrium, Zeeman Building after the lecture.