No.3: The crux dissimulata or the stupefaction of numbers (1976) 图画 由 Wilf Tilley

Number 3 of 3 pages from an early work blending the Fibonacci sequence with symbols of various belief systems. The sequence, beginning 1-1-2-3, is accompanied by the symbolic animal names in Christianity of the four evangelists: Matthew, the winged man (Homo), Mark, the winged lion (Leo), Luke, the winged ox (Vitulus) and John, the eagle (Aquila) combined with a Greek Cross. The second page continues the Fibonacci sequence, 5-8-13-21, accompanied by a Christian cross and the Japanese manji or swastika, a symbol of Buddhism. The third page, 34-55-89-144, shows both the Christian cross and the hammer and sickle, symbol of communism. How this all fits together is unclear. However, the subtitle, The Stupefaction of numbers, echoes Karl Marx' notorious, metaphorical description of religion as "das Opium des Volkes". The title may suggest that an over-reliance on numerical reasoning may itself be a stupefactive. All a bit uncertain. Interestingly the Fibonacci sequence has applications in fields as diverse as biology (3D structure of the DNA molecule, for example) and relative stock pricing (Fibonacci retracement). Number symbols per se have no inherent meaning. (Rapidograph pen and color on oiled, graph paper, signed and stamped recto (LR), the AOY catalog numbers are a later addition.

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Karl MarxCrux DissimulataFibonacci SequenceSymbolismSemiotics