Lunda Geometry: Mirror Curves, Designs, Knots, Polyominoes, Patterns, Symmetries

Book excerpt: The book "Lunda Geometry" explains how the mathematical concepts of mirror curves and Lunda-designs were discovered in the context of the author's research of 'sona', illustrations traditionally made in the sand by Cokwe storytellers from eastern Angola (a region called Lunda) and neighboring regions of Congo and Zambia. Examples of mirror curves from several cultures are presented. Lunda-designs are aesthetically attractive and display interesting symmetry properties. Examples of Lunda-patterns and Lunda-polyominoes are presented. Some generalizations of the concept of Lunda-design are discussed, like hexagonal Lunda-designs, Lunda-k-designs, Lunda-fractals, and circular Lunda-designs. Lunda-designs of Celtic knot designs are constructed.Several chapters were published in journals like 'Computers & Graphics' (Oxford), 'Visual Mathematics' (Belgrade), and 'Mathematics in School' (UK).