Across all cultures and throughout history, humans have used patterns and abstraction to express basic principles and higher-order principles, rather than isolated symbolic observations. Patterns are far more than simple decoration. From the geometric arabesques of Islamic architecture to the intricate kente cloths of Ghana and the minimalist structures of the Bauhaus, pattern has served as a universal visual language to show the structure of the world. In early cultures, repetitive motifs often symbolised the cyclical nature of life and the cosmos; in modern art, abstract painting was used to reveal invisible harmonies, exemplified by Piet Mondrian’s “Boogie Woogie” series. Wassily Kandinsky described abstraction as a spiritual necessity.

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Today, in a postmodern society, patterns and abstraction have become highly relevant in art and science to explain the interconnectedness of human senses, rhythms of nature, and technological systems.

This is especially illustrated with the advent of computer-generated art, which has transformed how artists create and engage with patterns. Using algorithms and computational systems, artists can explore complexity, repetition, and variation at scales and precision that are impossible by hand. Early pioneers such as John Whitney experimented with mechanical and digital systems to generate dynamic, rhythmic visual patterns for film. Peter Halley maps the architecture of urban networks, information flows, and technological systems in his neon-colored grids of "cells" and “conduits.” In parallel, European artists like Frieder Nake and Georg Nees developed algorithmic drawings using early computers, translating mathematical rules into visual compositions.

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The intellectual basis for these new artistic approaches can be traced to Stephen Wolfram’s concept of the Ruliad — a vast network of all possible computational rules — which suggests that the entire universe can be understood as an emergent pattern of relationships. At its core, Wolfram’s work demonstrates that even very simple rules, when applied iteratively, can produce highly complex, often unpredictable behaviour. This principle is most famously illustrated in his study of cellular automata, simple grids of cells that evolve over time according to defined rules. Despite their simplicity, these systems generate structures that resemble natural patterns, from the branching of trees to the growth of crystals, revealing how complexity can arise from basic computational principles.

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The Fibonacci sequence is the earliest and most commonly known example. It reveals universal mathematical relations that exist in organic forms like shells and flowers. It is complemented by Benoît Mandelbrot’s fractals, exposing the recursive geometries that define both natural and computational systems. Throughout history, this interplay between order and chaos has mirrored the fundamental structures found in nature and technology. Visual art has long reflected these observations, as vividly illustrated in patterns and graphics throughout human history. The style of these patterns may vary; however, the principle remains the same.