Abstract
Symmetry is the most fundamental principle of harmony in art, and it would not be excessive to suggest that symmetry is one of the basic principles that underlie the structure of the greatest art so far produced in the history of art, in reference specifically to dynamic symmetry. This study shall focus on the elements of dynamic symmetry that were systematically formulated by Jay Hambidge in the 1920s. The principles of dynamic symmetry that will be used in the study are root-five rectangle and the whirling square rectangle. These elements of dynamic symmetry will be extrapolated onto some Malaysian modern artworks as an attempt to describe the basic structure that underlies the composition of such works. This study is also based on the theory of composition and art history method. Using this underlying theory and method, this study will trace the dynamic symmetrical thread that underlies Malaysian modern paintings. Ten paintings from the collection of the National Visual Art Gallery, which fall in figurative themes, from the 1960s onward will be analyzed.
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Notes
- 1.
The term symmetry (or summetria) is a different concept from the nineteenth century one. Symmetry, and in Greek summetria, has one basic meaning and that is proportionality. For further readings, see [1].
- 2.
The golden section is the ratio of the longer to the shorter side of a rectangle which has the value of 1.618.
- 3.
All pictures were taken from [4].
- 4.
According to [7], “…if we wish to make a Picturesque work of art we must introduce a lot of angular lines…If we wish to produce a Graceful work, we must use a lot of serpentine lines accompanied by Order…If we wish to produce a Sublime or monumental work of art, we must use pyramidal lines and masses accompanied by Order…The Fourth law is: Unity of Thought…The Fifth law is: Concentration of effects…The Sixth law is: Balance of Masses…The Seventh law is: Clearness of Meaning…The Eight law is: Simplicity…The Ninth great law is: Proportion…The Tenth law is: Harmony.”
- 5.
References
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Abdullah, A., Razis, N.I., Silah, S. (2015). Symmetry in Malaysian Paintings: A Compositional Analysis. In: Hassan, O., Abidin, S., Legino, R., Anwar, R., Kamaruzaman, M. (eds) International Colloquium of Art and Design Education Research (i-CADER 2014). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-332-3_62
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-332-3_62
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