Question

In a 2-D work, when the figure becomes the background and the background becomes the figure, we perceive ________

a. figure-ground reversal
b. organic shape
c. implied shape
d. geometric shape
e. form

Answer 1

Figure-ground reversal occurs when the figure in a 2-D work becomes the background and vice versa, playing with our perception of positive and negative shapes.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a 2-D work, when the figure becomes the background and the background becomes the figure, we perceive a phenomenon known as figure-ground reversal. This is related to the concept of figure-ground relationship, which is a principle of Gestalt psychology. It describes how we typically segregate our visual field into figure and ground, with the figure being the main object of focus and the ground serving as the background. Classic examples include the famous vase that when perceived differently, appears as two faces.

This visual illusion plays with our perception of positive and negative shapes, where the positive shape is the figure, typically distinguished from the background, and the negative shape is the space around or within the figure which is perceived as the background. Works of art can employ this reversal to draw attention to certain elements, challenge the viewer's perception, or add a dynamic quality to the work.