Perceptual Illusion

Negative space is a powerful element of art. Artists emphasize the importance of positive and negative space when creating a composition, but it is only under certain conditions where negative space takes a life of its own. The idea of illusory contours brings negative space as a key design element, and through negative contours, we can produce an insightful and beautiful piece of media. In particular, recognizing negative space ties into the psychological phenomenon of not recognizing absences. People notice new patterns, but they do not notice that an observation stops occurring.