Benoit Mandelbrot was a Polish-born French-American mathematician and polymath with broad interests in the practical sciences, especially regarding what he labeled as "the art of roughness" of physical phenomena and "the uncontrolled element in life".Because of his access to IBM's computers, Mandelbrot was one of the first to use computer graphics to create and display fractal geometric images, leading to his discovery of the Mandelbrot set in 1980. He showed how visual complexity can be created from simple rules.

The intricate visuals of the Mandelbrot set, derived from simple mathematical rules, have deeply influenced interactive and film works, such as Mandelbrot.site, Mandelbrot Zoom Sequence, and Inside Math's Famous Fractal: The Mandelbrot Set. These works bring abstract mathematical concepts to life through digital interaction and visual media, allowing audiences to experience the mystery and beauty Mandelbrot uncovered.

Written by Ross Hill.