VISUAL
ART
And the Nature of Perception
Part I: Perception
PERCEPTION
The Perceptual Process:
Perception is awareness of the world around us. It is derived
from information supplied by all of our sensory receptors, of
which vision is foremost.
Although perceptions are unique to each individual, the
biological and mental processes by which they are formed
are the same for all normal human beings.
Visual perception is a pattern-making process. It involves
only two primary functions: (1) Organization (structure) and
(2) Meaning (recognition).
PERCEPTION
1. Organization
Organization has to do with separating figure from ground. A “figure” is
what we look at. Everything else is ground. The brain employs several
techniques for organizing the visual field…
PERCEPTION
Closure
Using a process call Closure,
the brain seeks to follow lines
and contours until they
enclose an entire shape
creating a figure.
Even if there are breaks in the
contour, the brain will fill in the
missing parts and enclose the
shape.
Do you see a triangle?
PERCEPTION
Edge
Our brains separate figures
from ground, and from each
other, by edge to become the
focus of our attention.
To identify an edge, the brain
employs a psychological
principal called irradiation,
accentuating the perceived
contrast between elements in
the visual field.
PERCEPTION
Irradiation
On this grid, the small gray
areas seen at intersections of
the white lines are strong
evidence of irradiation.
The brain is forcing the edge
to be sharper. The white
background is seen brighter
adjacent to black squares
than at intersections where it
is next to itself.
PERCEPTION
Irradiation
The irradiation process is
amplified when we darken
the white bars where the
brain tries to lighten them.
Now the small gray areas
appear almost as black
spots.
PERCEPTION
2. Meaning
The perceptual imperative is linked
to the strongest biological drive we
possess – the instinct for self-
preservation.
One of the foremost properties of
perception is the brain’s insistence
on creating patterns that hold
meaning, disregarding virtually
everything that it does not
immediately recognize.
This process has been honed over
millions of years and is fundamental
to natural selection and survival in a
hostile environment.
PERCEPTION
Pattern and
Structure
Concentrate on this pattern of
triangles.
Within moments they begin to
group and regroup in differing
formations of varying size as
the brain frantically searches
for meaning.
Some seem to be lighter, some
darker than others.
PERCEPTION
The Paradigm
of Symmetry
All living creatures appear to
have symmetry. Elements
that are seen as symmetrical
stand out as having the
potential to be living creatures.
When we were hunter-
gatherers, a symmetrical form
hidden in tall grass could be
perceived as a predator … or
food.
PERCEPTION
The Paradigm
of Symmetry
One tends spontaneously to
perceive symmetrical patterns
as figures and non-
symmetrical forms as ground.
Symmetry possesses visual
weight because we see it as a
characteristic of living
creatures.
In the patterns at left it is the
symmetrical black shapes
that stand out as figures.
Click image to view white figures.
PERCEPTION
The Paradigm
of Symmetry
One tends spontaneously to
perceive symmetrical patterns
as figures and non-
symmetrical forms as ground.
Symmetry possesses visual
weight because we see it as a
characteristic of living
creatures.
In the patterns at left it is the
symmetrical white shapes
that stand out as figures.
Click image to view black figures.
PERCEPTION
Illusion versus Reality
Are these figures rotating? Much of what we think we understand is
illusion. For all of us, it is this illusion that is reality. The physical and
perceived worlds are very different. Yet both are real.
PERCEPTION
Illusion versus Reality
a: Hering Illusion, first
published in 1861 raised a
question among physicists and
astronomers about the
reliability of visual observations.
Both red bars are perfectly
straight.
b: Müller-Lyer Illusion. The
vertical lines are the same
length.
c: One of M. C. Escher’s
impossible figures.
PERCEPTION
M. C. Escher
Master of Illusion, Maurits Cornelis
Escher is famous for his drawings of
impossible structures such as this
1958 lithograph entitled Belvedere.
PERCEPTION
Summary:
The Perceptual Process
Perception, in its most rudimentary form, operates at the
survival level.
Our senses deliver raw data to the brain. In turn, our brains
utilize that data in ways that protect us from harm, obtain
food and reproduce.
Our perceptual responses have been created by natural
selection – biological adaptations over hundreds of
thousands of years.
Much of what we perceive as real is actually visual
gymnastics being performed in the brain.
We’ve seen how the brain
has evolved neural
processes which enhance
the perception of objects in
the visual field. Honed over
hundreds of thousands of
years, these processes have
helped to ensure our very
survival.
Please view Part II