"Notan" is the term used by the Japanese to express "light-dark" as
an element of design. We use separate terms such as positive space and negative
space, dividing the idea of light-dark into separate components. On paper it
is easy to see that dark shapes cannot exist without a surrounding area of white.
White shapes cannot exist without dark to define it. The two elements are really
one. This is an eastern concept of yin-yang that each is what the other is not.
4th graders combined two elements in this project: they used
contrasting colors (colors opposite each other on the color wheel) and the concept
of Notan to make these beautiful compositions. Also called “expanding the
square,” this project focuses on balance, contrast, symmetry, and positive
and negative space
Please Click on the images below to see a larger version...
