The Idea of Space in Arts

The Idea of Space in Arts - Part 1

   “Space is a difficult concept. It is less mysterious, less mystical, than time, but more intricate, more mathematical. Space, we feel, is the barest possibility of existence, and from this we may argue that it must have the fewest possible properties, and be undifferentiated…But is space anything then?”

                                                                                                              J.R. Lucas (1973:95)

   Some people says space is a byproduct of an art while the others considered as an integral elements of art itself. Regardless of which perspective one takes its undeniably a part and parcel of art-making process. Visual Art is a tangible manifestation of ideas in its concrete form thus its physical existence resides in space.

   When one look at a painting, drawing or a print which is in their traditional form displayed on a flat plain on a piece canvas, paper or printed on wood, metal or the wall itself, one would always wonder about the the significance of a real space yet, they can always the feel the existence of spatial space the moment they observed the the artwork. Some of the work may gave a sensation of deep space while the other may imbued a sense of shallow or even ambiguous space especially in those abstract arts which purposely distorting the sense of order in the visual field to give a sensation restlessness and the likes to lead the mind of the audience to the content/meaning of an inner expression.

    In the art of sculpture, object creation, designs et cetera, the interaction between those concrete forms and the space enveloping them is easier to see because of they are very real in their physical sense. An artistic form created in space. However since the concreteness of the form itself stands dominant, the element of space sometimes is neglected by the viewer; thus considered as a byproduct of the form. An art form created by human whether its function is purely artistic, aesthetic or utilitarian, resides in space thus its inevitable for these two elements will interact with each other intentionally or accidentally.  The best artist is the one who is aware of the phenomenon and acted upon it wisely in his art.

   In this discussion I try explore the relationship between form and space as in the First Dimension (1D), Second Dimension (2D), Third Dimension (3D) and the Fourth Dimension (4D). In 1D, the existence of form and space is in its conceptual dimension. It is an idea that resides in the mind of the artist. This imaginative concept/idea is generated due to the interaction of our five senses (the look, smell, taste, hear, skin sensation) to our surrounding. It maybe physical, sociological, psychological etc or combination of all these factors. It need not be immediately affected after stimulation. It may take years to get the right combination to build certain concept or idea that can be transformed into an idea of art.

   In 1D the idea generated is purely conceptual and naturally the form and space is in its conceptual form too residing in the mind of the artist. For example, the artist has seen the paddy field in his childhood years along time ago and the memory of it lay dormant in his mind until the time he has sufficient artistic skill, then the idea may resurface in his mind recalling the memory of the event in his mind eyes.

In order to capture form and space of the 1D, if one has sufficient artistic skill, he would likely to draw or sketch it on a piece of paper or in his sketch book. Doodling in sketch book certainly helps an artist to recall back those past memories and to freeze them in form of 2D.

       

   A Doodle from a Sketchbook (2018)

   

     Now we are talking about 2D space,which a flat plane on a piece of paper, canvas or wood. So where did the space existed. It is called form and space of illusion. One can see and feel internally of the form and the space that just isn't there physically. Its also called as spatial space. An artist can create such form and space by properly and skillfully manipulating the elements and principles of design in their artistic composition. For example, some simple straight lines arrange in certain ways or difference in thickness may
gives a sense of space in between them. 

                                  Lumut Fishing Village (2005)

The varying thickness of the stilts combined with other factors like varying sizes of the boats, huts and trees help to give a sense of space. 

Basically in 2D arts, there are 3 types of space which forms are arranged by the artist. A sense of deep space can be felt on a flat plane of paper when the arrangement of objects/form diagonally tapering to the horizon. Sizes of identical form such as houses diminishing in accordance to this diagonal line to create a feeling of deep and vast space that one can see the horizon on the edge of the paper/canvas. The clarity/details on forms too, changes as the they get further along the plane. 

Gertak Sanggul, Penang (2005)

   There are three planes in most deep space composition i.e. the foreground which is the front of the composition. On this plane everything is clearly detailed and the size of the forms are at their biggest. As we move further along the imaginary diagonal line to the horizon, the sizes of identical objects get smaller and less clear than at the foreground. Here is the middle-ground. Further on as the eyes of the viewer moves to the horizon, forms get even smaller to the point of indiscernible or just a mere gestures at the background. 

   The field of view in 2D arts are sometimes been blocked by objects, wall, fence or the view of an interior space. Even if the process of its composition is the same as in deep space but the range of spatial view is rather short or devoid the sense of diminishing horizon, the art is said as to have a shallow space. 

     While some artist incorporates the idea of shallow space unintentionally others purposely use shallow space to convey certain meaning in their art. In a shallow space composition, the subject-matter usually can be given a greater emphasis by removing clutters of objects or elements which are unimportant to the composition. Composition of portraits or still-life usually used shallow space format in order to give more focus of the subject with blurred or blocked background.

Figure 201 by Mehmet Q Sauda' (2000) 

   The background is blurred to give emphasis to the portrait. The focus on the face is given a further treatment by simplifying the attire by leaving a big area of white with smattering touches of grey.

Painting 10 (2000)

Painting 10 by Mehmet Q Sauda' (2000) employed a blocking wall to create a shallow spatial space in order to give more focus to the sofa at the center of the composition.

   Artist like Henri Matisse (1869-1954) produced a considerable number of art works in a shallow space composition. 

                               Artist: Henri Matisse

                               Title: Still Life with Apples on a Pink Tablecloth

                               Media: Oil on Canvas

                               Year: 1924

Still Life with Apples on a Pink Tablecloth (1924) is one of many examples of Henri Matisse's shallow space composition.

   Ambiguous Space is when the spatial space in a composition cannot be identified in orderly manner of the two types of space mentioned before. The front, middle and background are blurred together to give a sense of no clarity which is the front or the back of the composition. This style is abundant in the art of expressionism or abstract expressionism. This idea of blurring the spatial space is especially effective in order to convey the inner feeling of the artist which was more on the psychological aspect of his perception rather than of the physical aspect of it. Thus the physical time line is deemed unnecessary. 

Sketches 111

Mehmet Q Sauda' (2006)

Pen on Paper

 

Lanskap Kacau Bilau (2008)

Mehmet Q Sauda'

Computer Drawing

   Artist like Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) produced quite a number of works with ambiguous space in his Cubist stage.