Note: This is the second in a 4-part series of articles on Lenses & Filters of The Creative Eye. You can find parts 1 here, 3 here and 4 here.
In the first part of this series, we discussed the 3 lenses of creativity.
Now, we’re going to explore the first 3 of the 9 filters of creativity.
These 3 are:
1. The Proximity Filter
2. The Spatial Filter
3. The Similarity Filter
Let’s get started.
The Proximity Filter
Closeness Creates Connection
Our minds tend to group things that are near each other.
And if visually connected, they’re seen as related.
Let’s see this in action.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
In a wolf pack, physical closeness creates a visual connection.
Now, since they’re walking along the same path, our minds perceive them as
members of the same group. Our minds consider things that are close to each other as things that belong to each other.
You will see and notice this all around you.
Even around your desk, books piled together in a corner will have a different
presence from the rest of the desk. On your desktop, files that are grouped together will seem to be related, and in the same group. In most cases, they usually are.
In a landscape, trees form a group. Rocks form a second. The mountains in a
distance form a third. The clouds in the sky form a fourth.
In biological terms, closeness and visual connection usually indicate the same genus (species) sharing a habitat.
This is why we instantly know that birds in a flock or fish in a school belong
together.
Let’s see this in art:
The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. Source: Wikimedia Commons
In “The Last Supper”, you will either see multiple groups based on how your eye
perceives information. You’ll either see a big group of 13 men.
Or a left group, a right group and Jesus at the centre.
The above two groupings are due to closeness. Let’s see how visual connections can change this.
Now, your mind could further divide the left group into two smaller groups: the 3
on the extreme left listening to the other 3 on the right in discussion.
This is because the first group of 3 on the extreme left are all looking towards the
right. This is their visual connection.
The other 3 men are all in conversation. This is their visual connection.
The same way, it could divide the right group into two more smaller groups: the 3
on the extreme right in discussion, and the other 3 talking to Jesus.
This is the power of proximity. It creates meaning through closeness and visual connections.
The Spatial Filter
Space Creates Sense
Are there more planets and stars in the universe, or space?
Are there planets in space, or space around planets?
These are rhetorical questions, so here’s a real one.
What is space?
In simple words, space is nothing. Or in simpler words, it is the absence of everything. And it’s really important.
In creativity, art, design, science... everything needs space. If it wasn’t for space, everything would technically be one huge thing.
Here are 3 reasons why space matters:
1. Clarity: Space makes things clear and clutter-free.
2. Emphasis: Space creates emphasis.
3. Balance: Things with equal spacing are balanced and in harmony.
The more important something is, the more space it occupies.
Look at a boardroom. The CEO has his own space at one side of the room. All the
others occupy a collective space at the other. There are many more benefits of space, but these are the 3 main ones you need to focus on.
Now, let’s see space in action through Edward Munch’s eyes...
The Scream. Source: Wikimedia Commons
In “The Scream”, Mr. Munch shows a central subject in anguish.
Most of the painting consists of empty space. This creates a sense of emphasis on the subject, while highlighting his isolation and loneliness.
This is the power of space.
It creates emphasis and importance through absence and isolation.
The Similarity Filter
Similarity Creates Belonging
I‘m going to share something interesting with you.
We already know that from the Proximity Filter, physical closeness creates a visual connection.
Now, what happens when two different things look so similar that they appear to
“belong” to each other.
It happens in nature all the time.
Ever heard of camouflage?
The chameleon is fantastic at it.
The sting ray is really good at it.
And so are many other animals.
Here’s a quick question...
What about the zebra? Does it have good camouflage?
I’m sure you must have heard somewhere that the zebra is white with black stripes. Or black with white stripes. And these stripes are supposed to look like shadows of branches or something.
Zebras are famous for their stripes, so they must have great camouflage, right?
Let’s put that to the test. Here are some zebras in a field...
Source: Blaire Harrington
How many are hidden? None.
Is the camouflage working? I don’t think so.
Then why are they made that way? What is the purpose behind their stripes? Surely nature‘s design cannot be wrong, can it?
Let’s look at some lions...
Source: Pixel4k
Wow. I do not want to be in that field.
What’s going on? Why is the predator so well hidden? And the prey so prominent?
Actually. The prey is hidden better than you think.
You see, they both have different camouflages. The lion has to hunt, and to hunt it
has to wait, and what does it do while waiting?
You guessed it. It HIDES!
And what does it use to hide? Yup. You guessed it. CAMOUFLAGE!
But then if it’s so good at hiding, won’t every zebra miss it? Shouldn’t it be able to
kill every zebra if it’s that good at hiding?
Here’s where it gets interesting. The lion does not hunt every zebra. In fact, 1 lion
can’t even eat a whole zebra. A bunch of lions eat a zebra.
Next, they don’t want any and every zebra. They want a special kind of zebra: the
young, the weak, the wounded and the old.
Any zebra that’s going to fall behind when the pack runs from an attack. That’s the zebra they want. That’s the one they target.
Just before the lion attacks a herd, he scans though it, looking for this particular
zebra. Let’s call him Joe.
Now, Joe is a silly little zebra. Not too old. Not too young. Middle-aged yet active.
Rough, yet handsome. He’s also very adventurous, which is why little Joe hurt his
leg the last time he ran out to the neighbourhood river.
The lions see Joe. The lions want Joe. The lions have targeted Joe.
Normally, the odds are all against Joe. Or so they seem. The lions are all faster than Joe. All the other Zebras are faster than Joe. In case of an attack, who’s going to be left behind?
You’re right, our dear precious JOE!!!!
And we like Joe, don’t we? Joe is nice. Joe is the hero of our story. He’s supposed to live a long fulfilling life and have 10-12 children.
But what about the lions? Aren’t they after Joe? The sun is about to set, and the lions are getting closer. The herd is moving back home, and Joe is trailing behind. The lions get even closer. The leader gives a loud roar, and the whole pride jumps
forward.
Is this the end for Joe? Will the lions win? Will he die? Or will he live and have a
dozen children?
What do you think will happen?
Well, I’ll tell you.
The lions try to grab Joe. The leader’s eyes are locked on Joe, and in a flash, Joe
disappears. He’s gone. Poof. All the lions see is a dizzying array of stripes.
Are they black stripes on white? Or white stripes on black? I don’t know, but it’s
good for Joe. Because in this confusion, Joe escapes.
Do you realize what happened? In your mind, you have just witnessed Nature’s
Grand Design in action.
The zebra has camouflage. But it’s useless when alone. That’s because the zebra has what I call HERD CAMOUFLAGE.
Source: Unsplash
What does this mean? It’s means that the zebra disappears only when it’s in a herd. It’s very difficult to keep your eyes on Joe when he’s running around with his friends.
Joe is a real-life moving optical illusion. He’s one more of Nature’s Great Designs.
Joe is a living example of the Similarity Filter in action.
Things that are similar are group together.
But things that are too similar blend into each other.
Air blends in air.
Smoke blends in smoke.
Zebras blend in zebras.
Our eyes will see similar things as a whole even in a contrasting environment.
Let’s see this in art...
Great Wave off Kanagawa. Source: Wikimedia Commons
In “Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Hokusai, we can see that tiny, extremely similar
waves create a huge wave.
This is the power of similarity.
It creates visual unity and cohesion through continuity and flow.
In the next part of this series, we’ll take a look at the next 3 filters:
1. The Minimalism Filter
2. The Isolation Filter
3. The Functionality Filter
You can read it here.
Happy creating!
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