Space, Reality, and Three-dimensional Art

Just as I have done with many of the concepts Arnheim discusses, I found myself asking is space real? Does it exist independently or only in the context of other elements? What does the word space mean? We can only begin to understand what space is because we are still not entirely sure why we perceive it the way we do. It really is fascinating that all optical input/projections on our retina are two-dimensional, yet our perception is three-dimensional. It is extremely difficult to imagine anything in a truly two-dimensional state. Take for example the woodcut by Hans Arp on page 235. I initially viewed this as a flat, target-like image on a wall. Yet even before I read the description, I started to see a black background and white ring, and then switched it to a black ring on a white background. As I read the description I could see the various planes of depth. I found it helpful to visualize the black and white areas as “mountains”, “canyons”, and “islands”. I don’t think it is a coincidence that I naturally gravitated towards these images, which are concrete examples of depth and spatial arrangement in my visual memory.

Furthermore, when we look at a photograph, technically the paper is two-dimensional, but it is impossible to not see any various planes of depth—impossible to not understand the three-dimensional world it represents. I never thought I would say this, but geometry is like art, at least in this way: geometry sets out to understand reality through representation. In order to solve a problem we draw lines and points—or at least representations of lines and points. In order to be truly one-dimensional, a line cannot have width or height, and a point cannot have length, width, or height (zero-dimensional). The pencil mark alone has measurable length, width, and height—arguably because we see it that way. We have evolved to see in three-dimensions, and personally it hurts my head when I try to fathom space in a two-dimensional or 4+ dimensional world. Still, geometry strives to represent reality and analyzes many of the same concepts art does. Crazy stuff.

This chapter really tied up any loose ends I had. In the middle of realizing all of this (freaking out over the possibility that nothing is “real”), I suddenly connected this chapter to something we read at the beginning of the semester (Sachs perhaps?). It was about how blind people perceive space differently—constructed through time rather than visually. I believe space is real—in that it exists because we construct it. So this is to say that if we could perceive four or five dimensions, we would see things in a completely different way. Seeing, perhaps meaning finally understanding the many unanswered how’s and why’s of our world equally as it means physically seeing. As a seeing person, space is nearly inseparable from visual experience. I say that space exists for blind people (but that they experience it differently) because I see space—because the blind live in my visual world. Why do I see space and depth? Is it because I can see color, because I can see light, because I can see brightness and contrast which gives shape to objects, because I can see various forms of these shapes…

Two-dimensional drawings that depict three-dimensional reality usually shows scenes that are real/ spatially achievable relationships. Such art simulates a “photographic” representation of nature (only one viewpoint), and it does not allow us to see the scene from different vantage points or to view objects from various sides. However, pattern can be used to alter our judgment of a geometric shape in illusionary art. It can depict a three-dimensional scene, which could not occur in reality. This creative art is created and appreciated by the best mathematicians and artists.

M. C. Escher:

Over break I visited the Annenberg Space forPhotography. Part of the Digital Darkroom exhibition showcased 3-D art. It made me think a lot about how we perceive space and about 3-D photography being a purely perceptual form of art. "3-D photograph exists only in the mind of the viewer. When I see a piece of sculpture or a painting , there's a physical thing sitting out there. But that 3-D photograph only exists while the person is viewing it"-- David Kuntz.

Here is the (2-D format) video from the website:

http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/video-gallery/digital-darkroom/3

Claudia Kunin Christopher Schneberger

Also, a link to the online gallery:

http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/slideshow/digital-darkroom-3D-print-gallery

Check it out. A lot of what they talk about is related to what we are learning in class. And understanding the history and process of 3-D art is really interesting.