Spatial Effects of Colors.

Donald Sultan, 28 Flowers Does Donald Sultan create an illusion that some flowers are larger and some are smaller? Some nearer, some farther? Which colors seem close, and which seem to recede?

Colors that are warmer seem to be closer Colors that are higher in value at full saturation (yellows) seem to be closer (why caution and stop signs are yellow and red—to jump out at us) Warmer, more saturated colors seem larger Cooler colors seem smaller Desaturated colors (especially dark desaturated colors) seem farther Darker colors seem farther

Hans Hoffman

Tony Bavington Notice how some sections of bands seem closer and some seem farther from the viewer.

Alfred Bierstadt, Merced River Atmospheric perspective: A technique where shifts in value and color create an illusion of space. Forms in the foreground are larger, darker, and higher in contrast. In the distance the value gets lighter and has less contrast.

Foreground: brighter, darker, more saturated. Background: lighter less saturated.

Frederick Church

Sanford Robinson Gifford

Masks

Dogon Sirige mask, Mali, The Sirige mask binds the Dogon to the celestial world of the afterlife and to earth. Wearers dance in sweeping motions to represent the course of the sun across the sky. This dance will be performed in honor of the passing of important figures.

Dgon Mask

Japanese Edo Period, Lacquered Iron and silk, Muneakira This mask depicts Jikokuten, one of the four kings of heaven. Masks were worn as part of Samurai armor to protect the wearer and intimidate enemies.

Yup’ik Dance Mask, Alaska masks depicted animals, supernatural beings and animal helpers. Dance ceremonies took place in the winter to ensure harmony between natural and spiritual realms during the coming year.

Humanoid Mask and Bear mask, Kwakwaka wakw (pacific northwest)

Banda Mask, Baga peoples; Guinea In this mask a character made of human and animal forms is represented—human face, crocodile jaw, antelope horns and snake body across the top of the mask. This mask was used in rituals to offer protection.

Kara People, Torres Straight Island Australia These masks were used during funerary rites, and were often composites of human and animal forms—the humanoid aspects possibly portraying a hero from oral tradition and the bird form on top of his head representing that character’s totem.

Funerary Jade Masks, Mayan civilization.

Egyptian Funerary Masks, displayed on the remains of mummies. Gold was representative of the Sun God, and thought to be the skin of the gods. Paint and inlays of lapiz luzuli and other stones were used to denote wealth and power.

Venetian Carnival masks: highly decorative, worn during carnival celebration of excess. Allowed wearers to take on new identities, be anonymous. The Venetian Carnival was based on the Roman Saturnalia, a pagan winter ritual. It transformed into a celebration before the austerity of Lent in the Catholic tradition

Bauta Mask

Plague Doctor Mask was part of the uniform doctors wore to protect themselves during the plague. It is now a memento mori (death symbol).

Mardi Gras Masks

Brazilian Carnival

Japanese Noh Theater masks

The same mask showing different expressions and the angles change