Negative Space

          Negative space is one of those systems that always seem to attract me. It is defined as unused parts or spaces of an artwork. On the contrary, negative space is beautifully articulated space left empty in order to create an image in the shadows of paintings and other artwork. Negative space began many years ago, with the Renaissance period with artists using the vanishing points to make people look at certain parts of an art piece. The Romans used it well with the V shapes in their sculptures of the human body. However, today maybe with the help of psychology and ink blot tests, the artists seem to be using negative space in a bold and broad manner. I particularly love the fact that these pieces are like 2 pieces of a puzzle that you can examine separately, and then put together in your mind. I discovered the artist Tang Yau Houng while researching negative space and his art makes my brain smile. For example, the lost in memory piece of the Asian woman in red is beautiful until you see the pipe at the end and then you wonder is she simply smoke coming from the pipe. The Erotic Literature one is also fun because it can look like a mannequin, or a nude body, or a writing instrument, or even a beak. The world of negative space is so full of possibilities.