Ruta

Contest entry

This piece captures the skeletal remains of a decomposed leaf, exposing a delicate vascular network that follows the same mathematical principles found across nature. Though shaped by organic processes, the patterns within this leaf reflect stochastic systems at work—evidence that mathematics is embedded in the world around us.

The fragmented vein structures mirror anomalous diffusion, where movement is irregular and constrained by natural barriers. The decay process forms random networks, modeling subdiffusive transport, much like how particles navigate disordered environments. The gaps and breakages resemble percolation clusters, illustrating the transition between connectivity and fragmentation. The fine, interwoven pathways echo Lévy flights, seen in everything from animal foraging to fluid dynamics.

This leaf was chosen because it is a perfect, natural manifestation of these mathematical ideas—a reminder that stochastic systems don’t just exist in equations but shape the patterns of life itself. The artwork highlights how randomness, constraints, and structure emerge organically, making the invisible mathematics of diffusion visible and tangible. Light and shadow interact with its delicate form, creating a dynamic composition that bridges the worlds of science, mathematics, and art.

Artist biography

Nature has always been my playground, and photography my way to show the tiny gems I find. Though I became a scientist, the camera never left my hands. I am a mother now and my little one went for a hunt to find this leaf. The leaf’s fragile skeleton reflects life itself — a structure shaped by time, yet full of unpredictable paths.