Mathematics-themed handicrafts and books are on display on the second floor of HZAU's library. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]

A mathematics-themed exhibition featuring handicrafts and books was recently held at the library of Huazhong Agricultural University, offering visitors with an interactive experience of the subject's visual and creative appeal.

Part of a campus event focused on mathematics, the exhibition displayed dozens of student-created works, including origami, string art, pearl paintings, and mother-of-pearl crafts, along with popular science books on mathematics. Through these exhibits, abstract concepts were transformed into tangible forms that could be seen and touched.

In one display, flat sheets of paper were folded into intricate three-dimensional shapes, such as lobsters and spiral towers, illustrating principles like Euler's theorem. Other exhibits visualized important concepts in calculus and geometry. Pearl paintings used beads of various sizes to show how curves can be approximated with straight lines, while string art and shell crafts explored themes of symmetry, topology, and the golden ratio.

Shen Jingfang, vice-dean of the College of Informatics, said such activities enhance students' spatial reasoning and practical skills. She noted that in the age of artificial intelligence, where machines excel at calculations, these physical creations reaffirm the human ability to perceive and produce beauty through mathematics.

The exhibition also included books introducing mathematical thinking and an interactive paper-folding area, encouraging visitors to explore the subject through practice.

Jointly organized by the College of Informatics and the university library, the event is part of a broader initiative to promote a culture of mathematics on campus.