Space & Form

Form

Form is a larger more complete group. It may be expressed or implied.

In visual art, a 3-Dimensional shape is form. It is defined by four points. It can be geometric or organic. It has height, width, and depth. All physical objects are forms. Two-dimensional art such as drawings or computer graphics have only the illusion of depth and form; only sculpture and ceramics have actual form.
In audible art, a form is the physical manifestation of the work such as a song, an instrumental piece, or a speech.
In written art, the form is the physical manifestation of the work such as a letter, a memo, or a book.

Space and time are the physical and temperal relation between objects, also known as the "where" and "when" element.

In visual art, space-time is expressed at 100% space. It is flat and only an illusion in 2-D art such as drawing, painting, and computer graphics. In 3-D art, space is the empty areas (sometimes called negative space), and form is the areas that are filled with "stuff" (sometimes called positve space). Visual art doesn't take up a certain amount of time, but it does require a certain amount of space.
In audible art, space-time is expressed as 100% time. Time is the "space" between tones. It is expressed in before, now, and after. Notes would be equivilent to positive space, and silence equivilent to negative space. Sound doesn't really take up space, but it requires a certain amount of time to experience.
In written art, space-time is more ambiguous. The writing itself (be a paper, a data file, or a stone tablet) does take up actual space, but the space can vary—you could photocopy and shrink the paper, compress the data file, or make smaller stone tablet, but write the same information with smaller characters. Also, there is time; events, words, ideas occur in a sequence with a before and after, but there is no set time that a writing takes to enjoy—you could spend a few hours or a few days reading the same book or reciting the same poem.

The surface of a form has texture, the subject of our next lesson.

Click on a lesson below: