The meaning of Positive and Negative space (College Work)

The usage of Positive and Negative space is quite simple in many ways. Artworks show this sort of style quite frequently because they want to show the real subject in an image or the detail in a certain area which could produce a message or construction of thought in our minds as we gaze closer. Now these usages of Positive and Negative gifts character to an image which could contrast and attract the eye, so it is important to use this technique to influence such a simple mind. So all-in-all, this technique is quite common in day to day art, and even in building areas for structures.

Explaination of Positive/Negative Space;
The easiest way to portray a Positive and Negative space is by using the two colours black and white. First discovered by Mister Rubin or Edgar Rubin, a Danish psychologist which concentrated on how optical illusions effected the brain in the way to see things in a different manner. For example, to stare at something for some one to understand that there is also another meaning to an image then when a person only has a first glance at something and misses the whole point of an image exactly. This is where Positive and Negative space comes in; Rubin designed a clever image called the Rubin Vase. An image which was just a vase planted in the middle of a huge blank canvas. Now, you could just think it's a vase, but if you look real closely, and see what else it resembles, you can clearly see there are two faces making the rim and edges of this vase, edges and bumps.

This is called the use of Positive and Negative space. What Rubin did was convey a hidden meaning to the image by giving the characteristics of a face (Which would be the Negative space, as you see nothing is clearly there), imprinted in the Vase, as for just creating a vase in general (Positive Space, the vase you see is clearly there).

Usage of Positive/Negative space in normal images;
Believe it or not, Positive and Negative space is really focused on Positive and Negative space. Yes, it won't be exactly the same as Rubin's image, but this space can express what needs to be seen, and what is just there for show. This can also be referred back to the Rule of Thirds, which is where you focus on the alignment of an image or placement, which better suits the eye or what the eyes is drawn to. So, where does the Positive and Negative space comes into the Rule of Thirds? Simple, both have in common one simple rule; the "Alignment" of things.

Rule of Thirds - How it works is the top horizontal line represents the eye line as the bottom represents the horizon. 

First of all, a grid is needed to portray the detail of the Rule of Thirds. Normally the usage of Negative space is the space which is unimportant (Yet, still quite important in terms of an image looking good and all) normally this background is out of focus or just there to fill the space, but that is the point, Negative space is not just there for no reason, it's there to give flavor or idea to surroundings. So, in layman terms, the background, or objects, beings, surfaces, surroundings in the background.




 
So what does this have to do with Positive and Negative space? Simple, it shows what is positive (What is more clear to the eye) sits along the eye line as well as part of the horizon line, drawn near to the middle. The Negative (The background normally, sits just around the subject or Positive subject) will always be around the middle box, and rarely ever inside the middle box. 





But here's another thing which you may think is missing; explanation of a hidden message can be hard to communicate through any image whilst using Positive/Negative Space. Actually, any image shows a hidden meaning whilst using Positive/Negative. An emotional appearance or purpose of a image or artistic vision can express a certain sparks of ideas and concepts into the human mind. For example, the background can suggest certain tones or colours in the work, different colours mean different things to people. Or the subject in the foreground, or of course the Positive occupied space, can show expression or movement in the way the think is expressed.