Katerina Fishbein

Contest entry

Nature is shaped by hidden mathematical structures, and this artwork explores anomalous diffusion and reaction-diffusion systems in the patterns found in landscapes. Inspired by Turing’s model of pattern formation, these images picture fields where floral and organic textures emerge from reaction-diffusion-like structures, reflecting the mathematical processes.

However, unlike classical reaction-diffusion, the patterns here exhibit irregularities and disruptions, mirroring anomalous diffusion—a process where movement is influenced by memory effects, spatial constraints, or external forces. In ecosystems, plant dispersion is rarely uniform; environmental factors create patchy, irregular growth.

The blending of structured and chaotic regions in the images symbolises the balance between order and randomness, a concept fundamental to probability theory and stochastic systems. These variations resemble real-world phenomena such as chemical morphogenesis, ecological dispersal, and even neural patterning in biological systems.

This piece invites the viewer to see the hidden mathematics that shape the world—how randomness and structure coexist to create complexity in nature.

Artist biography

I am Katerina Fishbein, a designer and artist working with AI-generated visuals and digital storytelling. My background is in branding and graphic design, and I enjoy exploring how technology can create emotional, unusual, or playful images. Recently, I've been making short AI-generated video sketches on TikTok, using humor and surreal visuals to play with themes like randomness, routine, and emotional expression.