My unsung hero is Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi (born c. 780 —died c. 850). He was a Persian mathematician. I chose him because he invented algebra and was very influential in mathematics. His dedication to his craft is inspirational and I admire this about him. Al-Khwarizmi came up with the very concept of algebra because he was trying to find a way to solve financial matters more efficiently.

Al-Khwarizmi lived in Baghdad, and worked in the House of Wisdom, where he wrote three books. One of his books is called Al-Kitāb al-mukhtaṣar fī ḥisāb al-jabr waʾl-muqābala (“The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing”), which my art piece depicts. He contributed to a positive change in history by heavily influencing the works of future mathematicians. He was also a great astronomer. He wrote Kitāb ṣūrat al-arḍ (“The Image of the Earth”) which presented extremely accurate coordinates for locations in the known world at the time, especially in Asia and Africa. He improved the coordinates for the length of the Mediterranean Sea.

My vision is to shed light on Al-Khwarizmi’s accomplishments. My art interprets his achievements in the form of an ancient-looking book bound in leather. On the cover of the book are the words “Al-jabr” which translates to “restoration.” Algebra is from this Arabic word. My artwork expresses Al-Khwarizmi’s desire for knowledge and determination to find solutions. I decided to use brown leather because my research found that leather was the most common material used to bind books at the time. I cut out Arabic letters from gold, felt material because I liked the contrast. A big part of my technique was to use old looking materials to create something impressive.

Al-Khwarizmi’s story encourages me to pursue my goals with diligence and determination. In sharing my artwork, I hope more people will learn more about his contributions to our world, and not just in mathematics.