Haniyyah Ul Irshad
the artist
National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan
Haniyyah Ul Irshad is a mathematician from Pakistan who works on fractional calculus and stochastic methods to model anomalous diffusion, unify operator frameworks, and investigate complex systems governed by memory effects and nonlocal interactions.
the artwork
رکاوٹِ غیر متوازن
Urdu - Asymmetric Obstruction - 2025 - acrylic paper, acrylic paints, and water-based markers
0 days - 19 hours - 48 minutes
audio commentary
One thing that captures my interest is how mathematics divulges the underlying sequence of an outwardly chaotic system, such as that of a particle traversing a compound medium. This artwork intertwines that element with ethnic identity, using the green and white which composes Pakistan’s flag, and the mural reflecting Pakistani truck art. The puzzle piece entailing fractional time derivative highlights how it is essential to model subdiffusion. Asymmetric permeability is portrayed using the sponge and the cracked wall, with the white strokes showing the particle’s random motion across time.
Haniyyah Ul Irshad
mathematics in Pakistani culture
Islamic geometry is a prominent feature in Pakistani art and architecture, inherited due to the deep-seated influence of its Islamic heritage as well as its extensive cultural history shaped by the influence of numerous diverse historical civilizations such as the Mughals. It is visible in the architecture of numerous mosques around the country. One such example is the Wazir Khan mosque which exhibits the use of geometric patterns in its ornamentation, used with precision to achieve unique patterns through symmetry and repetition of certain shapes.