Summary
Highlights
Space is a fundamental element in art, sometimes in multiple ways. Site-specific art, for instance, is entirely dependent on its environment, making the transformation of space the artwork itself. Space is one of the seven elements of art, defining the area within and around an artwork.
In two-dimensional art, space is contained within the canvas. Main objects occupy positive space, while the surrounding area is negative space. Artists sometimes intentionally blur these boundaries. In three-dimensional art, positive space is the area objects occupy, and negative space is the area between and around them.
Many two-dimensional works create the illusion of three-dimensional space using specific techniques. Overlapping elements, as seen in Kehinde Wiley's portraits, gives a sense of depth. Placing objects in different parts of the canvas, like Wang Wei's landscapes, implies depth, with figures seemingly moving further back. Artists also use relative size, making smaller figures appear more distant.
Contrasting sharply focused figures with blurry backgrounds, as Roy DeCarava did in his photographs, creates a sense of real depth. Varying hues and values, like Georgia O'Keefe's use of red values, also give the illusion of depth. Artists such as Alex Roulette use classic single and two-point perspective to create expansive space, where objects appear smaller with distance.
Space can be described as dense, open, cluttered, symmetrical, shallow, or flat. How artists use space contributes to their unique style and communication. The video encourages viewers to observe how artists manipulate space in various artworks and to consider their own approach to space when creating their art, to effectively convey their messages.