Post an example of a design with great visual unity and explain how the elements of unity work well in this design: *proximity *repetition *continuation *continuity How does this same image take advantage of rhythm as a design element? (This will be a separate discussion forum thread; repost your example with your answer)
I feel that tessellations are images with great visual unity. The most famous painter of tessellations was M.C. Escher (homepage).
In the picture on the left (not a tessellation), one is struck by the great variety of images. Even if each individual image is three dimensional, they are all unified by sharing a common plane.
They are so proximal that one image serves as the adjacent image’s background. There is no space beyond what Escher painted. Not only do the lines of one image flow into the next, they *are* the next image’s lines. I can think of no better example of visual unity through continuation.
They share even more. Except for the guitar, there is a repetitive theme of animate beings. After scanning the picture, I am confused and dizzied by the effects of the juxtapositions. Only the guitar might be a focal point but only for thematic reasons. The images are proportioned so that each takes up approximately the same surface area. This balance and organization of space create continuity in the composition.
The idea of a single visual focal point is inappropriate since I think Escher purposefully created images to make us go from a to b to z and back again.
First, there is a staccato rhythm created by the juxtaposed black and white images. Each image in the composition requires attention. Once the information from one element has been absorbed, viewers abruptly move to the next.
Each part evokes varied emotional and intellectual responses. This means that some elements take more time and others less. The images are numerous as well as varied. At first, the great number of discrete elements raised my tension level. The combination of the quantity and qualities of all the elements, taken together, had the effect of numbing me. I slowed down after an initial rush.
After repeated viewings, I saw deeper into the picture. There are unifying elements in the composition. These include the balance of black and white, shared lines and plane, as well as the overall positive use of space. No space is empty. What is more, if you look at the neighboring images of the same color, the form ribbons. I did not appreciate those things at first. Now, I find myself going back and forth between the emotional parts and the intellectual whole. I would call this is a syncopated rhythm.
The picture is brilliant, because there is another rhythm that seems overlaid on the 'chorus' and 'stanzas'. The guitar is thematically different. The effect of an inanimate object among the rest produces discord. I found the rhythm infused with another rush as I checked the Guitar against the snake, Guitar vs. calf, Guitar-bird, Guitar-devil, et cetera. It was a rich experience.
Just for fun, what is the focal point of the following tessellation?
I cannot guess your answer, but I am sure what you saw falls into one of six groups:
- First, Turtle, then Fish followed by Bird
- Turtle, Bird, Fish
- Bird, Turtle, Fish
- Bird, Fish, Turtle
- Fish, Bird, Turtle
- Fish, Turtle, Bird
Last updated: September 17, 2004