Islamic art not only demonstrates the symbolic significance of geometric forms and their psychological, social, religious, and aesthetic functions. In addition to these purposes, Islamic art also demonstrates symmetry. Symmetry's appeal is well-known: babies tend to favor faces with symmetrical features over those with lop-sided noses or askew eyes. Although absolute symmetry is by no means a prerequisite for beauty, symmetry is usually perceived with pleasure. The Spirograph forms, explicated by Karin Deck, are sublimely symmetrical.

Spirograph hypotrochoids and epitrocoids illustrate the value of symmetry in aesthetics and they also demonstrate the prevalence of mathematics in visual art. While Spirograph patterns may not normally be considered fine art, they are nevertheless pleasing to the eye as well as the mind. Their symmetry no doubt contributes to their aesthetic appeal but Spirograph trochoids, like Islamic friezes, draw order out of chaos and reveal the prevalence of patterns throughout the universe. Moreover,...
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