Lecture-4

Positive and negative space in a form:

Form is generally observed as occupying some space, but it can also be a blank space surrounded by a space. When we see a form occupying some space it is termed as a positive space in a form. When we see it like an empty space or blank it is considered to be a negative space in form. In any black and white combination, we tend to derive black as occupied and white as unoccupied. Thus, the black form is recognized as a positive, and white form is recognized as a negative form in space. But many times this understanding is not true. For example, when one form penetrates or intersects with another, what is positive and what is negative are no longer recognizable.

Positive or negative space is commonly referred to as the “figure” which is on a “ground”. Here ground denotes the area surrounding the form or the “figure”. In few cases this figure-ground relationship is reversible and may take various combinations for viewer to understand (Fig.15).

Fig 15: Figure and ground relationships.

The figure/ground reversals create a meaningful "surprise" in the viewer's eye. See the fig.15 above, in the first image you see the positive space or figure (white) as a vase which does not have any surprising elements but, in the second image the positive space or figure is a chalice where as negative space or ground (black) denotes two frontal faces looking at each other and in the third image as you can see four faces in both as figure and ground and the image of a bird comes out as figure. Many of the best logos designed use figure/ground reversal to their advantage.

Form is a 3-dimensional element. It has length, breath and thickness. But shape is 2 dimensional; it has only length and breath. Form exits in space where as shape always exists in area. This aspect of form shape relation is often misunderstood. See Fig.16 below, where you see the connection between form with space and shape with area. The shape of the glass exists in area and the form of the glass exists in space.