BALanCE

First and foremost, this picture is the top portion of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. I have always been fascinated by the architectural structure of the Guggenheim although I have never been inside. When I was a bit younger, I hated the structure. It was so unnecessarily big and gray and all over the place. It differed completely from a typical museum in terms of the exterior. I suppose that I felt uncomfortable so I ultimately chose this picture to illustrate balance in terms of asymmetry.

If one was to split this photo in half, clearly what is depicted on the left differs a bit to what is illustrated on the right but somehow the structure works. The bottom portion(s) of the photo are asymmetrical but function perfectly at a certain point. The textbook states,  "Asymmetrical arrangements provoke more rigorous involvement-they require the brain to assess differences in space and stimulate the eye to greater movement." The asymmetrical nature of this structure allows the viewer's eyes to somewhat dance around the complex elements, creating this rhythm, the rhythm of art. There exists a reason and motif as to why the Guggenheim was constructed in the way that it is. it is avant-garde and modern. It does not contain an archaic structure of pillars like that of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (although I do love that museum). It sets itself apart from other landmarks in NYC. The interesting thing is that The Guggenheim in comparison to the Neapolitan Museum of Art is that although it is much smaller in size, the exterior is a piece of art in of itself. I wonder if the Metropolitan is more inviting because of how "plain" the structure is compared to the boldness of the Guggenheim.

In terms of symmetry, the textbook states, "It’s true that symmetry occurs in nature-just look at our bodies-but that doesn’t mean it’s a good strategy for designing. Symmetrical visual arrangements are generally static and offer little movement… The format has center axis, and clearly everyone can see that. Why let the format tell you what to do? You tell the format who’s boss."I find this statement to be completely incredible in how bold the writer thinks and feels. But the fact that symmetry is apart of nature, does that mean that asymmetry is artificial, non-organic, synthetic? Is there always a reason behind asymmetry? Does asymmetry always make us uncomfortable because it is not the "norm"? If it makes us so uncomfortable, will asymmetry ever be accepted in a context outside the one of art?

I would love nothing more but to finally go inside and observe how shape, balance, and complexity works it way into the art that the museum exhibits. 

Rhythm

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with my father's ties. I grew up in a fairly religious home, so every Saturday morning, my dad would go into his collection of ties and allow me to select the one that best suited his attire. They all came in different lengths and colors, and I was ultimately intrigued.

What was so captivating to me as a child were the patterns that each tie illustrated and how unique each one was. The creativity and craftsmanship behind each tie ultimately inspired me to take a picture of just a few of my father's ties.

Out of all the images for this assignment, this particular one is the most "staged". I found the concept of rhythm in art or in a picture to be quite difficult for me to illustrate. For rhythm to be illustrated in a photograph, I believe that the elements of the picture have to come together in a way that has a beat. The elements almost have to dance together to portray this concept. Whether that dance is demonstrated through color, contours and lines, or shapes. Once one observes that picture, that individual has to feel as if he or she is in a sort of trance. 

I believe that this image illustrates rhythm through color and pattern. What I find interesting in this image is that each tie conveys rhythm. Each individual tie possesses a vibrant and vivid color or pattern. Rhythm is also illustrated in this image through shape. The ties are not shown in a linear or flat surface. They are piled on top of each other creating implied texture and complexity. The eyes of the viewer dances due to the the patterns, colors, and shapes of the ties in this image. Each tie differs to the other but somehow come together in this rhythmic way.

Another interesting aspect of the image is that in the top portion of this image, there seems to be more space between the ties. As the eyes travel further down the image, the ties become cluttered and convoluted. This was truly unintentional but the significance of this composition further demonstrates rhythm. The cluttering of the ties reveals this dance as they are curved within each other. The geometric shapes, stripes, and colors are operating in a way that reveals more than just a tie. It becomes it's own art. I like how the vivid colors and patterns are seen layered on top and the image that is plain white, only appears in certain sections. In addition, the ties are placed on tiles, which have their own pattern and rhythm. It seems as if pattern and complexity cannot be escaped in this image because not only are the ties rhythmic, but so is the background they are placed on.

Negative Space

 Negative space truly is illustrated in this image because of what the white or negative space does to the subject occupying the positive space.The space surrounding the words in the image, almost exalts the word "God" and emphasizes the importance of that word. That empty space operates like a punctuation. The negative space is like a full-stop without there being a period following the word "God". It's God period.

Another interesting component of this image is that the white negative space can symbolize purity, which is a quality associated with God or the divine. Not only is the negative space emphasizing the word but it is also apart of the word "God". The textbook asserts that, "Negative space is magical...create it don’t just fill it up!" Negative space is incredibly hard to achieve in a photograph but what is interesting about negative space in this image is that the negative space and the positive space are not mutually exclusive subjects. The positive space does not stand alone.

In addition, the textbook also asserts, "Negative space is just as much a shape that you have to deal with in a composition as positive shapes, whether picture or type. When you don’t deal with it at all, negative space feels dead and disconnected from the visual material it surrounds. If the space gets filled up, the result is an oppressive presentation that no one will want to deal with. A lack of negative space overwhelms and confuses the audience, which is likely to get turned off.” An interesting component of the image is the lighting. The lighting is very dark and dull, which is quite contrary to what God symbolizes. Yes, this could just be my phone (which I am certain it is) but it makes the negative space almost dead. But the word "God" brings it back to life, again furthering the significance of that being. Negative space is interesting because it allows the viewer not only analyze the main subject of the image but to also accept that subject for what it does in the image.

Another interesting component of this image is shape. The letters in this image are indeed shapes but are still typographical. The words connect and is interwoven with the negative space but still holds its own integrity.

PROPORTION

This particular image demonstrates proportion in my opinion due to the figure's size, especially when juxtaposed to the surrounding objects.

The cubical object is of a greater size than the bike that is  a bit more foreground. With the great difference in size, there is a relationship that is established between these two objects. The object is incredibly large and dwarfs that of the observer. Clearly, the artist or artists who crafted this piece made it to create tension, emphasis, especially by placing it on this pedestal. Just by walking down the street that this structure is located on, this cube captures your attention.

What made me ultimately decide to capture this image and use it towards this assignment, is that the proportion and the craftsmanship of the structure, became thought-provoking. I believe that a great aspect of proportion is to not just establish a relationship between one object in relation to others in the image but also a relationship of the large object to the viewer. I started asking myself, what is the significance of this sculpture? Does it derive a set of meanings because it is placed in a busy location like that of NYC? Does it attempt to mimic the lives of New Yorkers in that we are always so absorbed in our own lives that we are boxed in and ripped from reality? Is our lives that of a geometric shape, reveling complexity and intricacies but still going nowhere? Or is it simply to demonstrate a piece by a Cooper Union student or alum?

The Design Elements textbook states, "Although geometric shapes and relationships clearly occur in nature, the message a geometric shape conveys is that of something artificial, contrived, or synthetic." There exists a reason as to why this structure is significant and why that significance is attached it its size. The size of the cube makes everything else looks so mundane and almost irrelevant. What is so fascinating is that the geometric shape is not just an ordinary shape and I truly believe that is that the artist(s) wanted to convey. Later on in that same chapter, the author asserts that, "...as they do with all kinds of form, our brains try to establish meaning by identifying a shape's outer contour." Another component of this structure is that the cube contains shapes within it. The angle that the viewer can see in this picture, shows that one surface or dimension is divided into 4 smaller squares and within those same squares are shapes. The structure is like one giant Rubik cube of meaning and depth, and that truly gets conveyed through its size or proportion.

Emphasis

The Empire State Building itself possesses a great component of New York City's culture. It is a building of business, culture, and NYC life.

After carefully analyzing this photograph that I took on Valentine's Day, I noticed that my eyes or focus was initially drawn to the empire state building and that is one of the reasons this picture conveys emphasis. Emphasis is working in this image in two ways. Not only is the Empire State Building the viewers' initial focus but light itself is another subject being emphasized. I believe that this image shows depth of field but also applies to the rule of thirds. The composition of the photo, places the Empire State Building in the middle of the image emphasizing its significance. What I also find really interesting is that my eyes progressed upwards to the empire state building when I analyzed the image. My eyes went downwards to the people in the image and then up to the building of pink LED lights. 

I stated that the other subject of emphasis in this image is light. Light is also being emphasized because of the amount of sources of lights seen in this image. Not only is the top half of the empire state building flaming fuchsia, but one can also see lights in windows of the building. You see the street lights further into the image. There are also lights on the building on the far left of the picture. With all these lights illustrated in the image, the picture contains this vibrancy and truly encompasses the definition of NYC, "The city of lights." Repetition is a component of emphasis, and the mere fact that the repetitious element in this image is light, this image does in face illustrate the concept of emphasis. Light encompasses a number of meanings but in this image, it represents busyness. Lights are a form of guidance in a place that is dark. In this image, light has a presence. One wonders if the Empire State Building would be as attention-worthy in this image if it wasn't for the fuchsia lights.

When the viewer looks at the image from right to left, it is quite interesting that the right portion of the image is quite empty almost peaceful. But as the eyes travel leftwards, the environment becomes that much more metropolitan and fast paced. Lights are more prevalent and cars take stage. The only component or subject in this image that appears static is that Empire State Building. While everything around it is moving, it stands alone even though other buildings accompany it.  It calls attention to itself in a way that is so beautiful that it becomes organic. In my opinion, emphasis or when something is emphasized in a composition, it seems artificial and forced, but the Empire State Building simply draws onlookers to it. It not only represents the cosmopolitan lifestyle but integrity and euphoric solitude.

Silhouettes