Advent, Day 14: Empty Things

(Day 14 of this year’s Advent series. Yesterday’s piece was about the M.C. Escher structure of the second; today we consider negative space.) 

Empty Things

Blessed are those
Who fill their time with deserts – 

With empty things, stables and tombs
A mountain with crowds moved on – 

The leftovers
After fishes and bread
Are gathered in. 

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“Negative space” is defined as “the empty space around and between the subject(s) of an image.” Its perception is the result of an eyes-plus-brain quirk that can result in optical illusions such as our previously-discussed bistable image, Rubin’s Vase.

Now: if we’re speaking philosophically here – which of course we are – there are two additional little quirky tendencies that negative space tends to bring out in humans. 

Exhibit A is the tendency to focus on the subject and not see the surrounding space at all. This is the “stick a star on it” tendency of holiday preparations. 

And then there’s Exhibit B. Exhibit B is…rough. For me, personally. 

It’s the tendency to yes, see the negative space – and then – to make it something.

You know. Like a face, or a vase. Or two vases. Or maybe, I don’t know, a pelican. You never know where the average graphic designer is going to secretly stick a pelican into a visual? 

Ok, so maybe that’s the “stick a pelican in it” tendency of looking at things. Negative space is supposed to be *checks Wikipedia again* “the empty space around and between the subject(s) of an image.” 

So: the space is the space is the space. 

Ok, Wikipedia. Ok. I’ll stop trying to stick a freakin’ pelican in every blessed, empty thing. 

Now please tell me there are some leftovers in this empty space other than fish and bread.

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