Fredson Silva de Souza Aguiar
the artist
Getulio Vargas Foundation, Brazil
Fredson Silva de Souza Aguiar is a mathematician from Brazil who works on Optimal Control Theory and Applications, with especial interest in Epidemiology, Biological Systems and Machine Learning.
the artwork
Equilíbrio Ótimo para Viver
Portuguese- Optimal Balance to Live - 2025 - digital
3 days - 22 hours - 03 minutes
audio commentary
Control Theory is about making decisions — but sometimes, the system we try to control is far from simple. And what could be more complex than human life itself? This artwork is a meditation on time and perspective: how much have you already lived, and how much remains ahead? We are the sum of our past choices and the countless forces beyond our control. Even so, while the future can only be glimpsed, time still offers us a choice. The question is: what will we do with it? For me, the answer lies in balance.
Fredson Silva de Souza Aguiar
mathematics in Brazilian culture
Brazilian native cultures have strong social, organizational, and natural influences, which are often expressed through intricate geometrical representations. This aspect is evident in the art of the Kadiwéu, Mẽbêngôkre (Kayapó), and Marajoara, for instance, where bodies, ceramics, and other items are adorned with precise drawings. These intricate, symmetrical, and repeated patterns are used to represent social status, signify rituals, and even to tell stories!