Juxtaposition / Juxtaposed Definition

Within art, Juxtaposed is a verb showing the action of two objects that have been placed side by side for contrast.

Juxtaposition is the ability to place elements side by side within art to create a comparison or to allow for contrast.

Essentially both words are the same except the first is in action of, while the latter is defining the nature and ability of elements to be compared.

While this focus is based within Visual Arts and often framed within two dimensional application, Juxtaposition also impacts other spheres. Writing is a great example to see its influence.

One can also find Juxtaposition within architecture. The concept itself can be used across many platforms through mere comparison and contrasting such as social structures, economies, and business models.

Needless to say there are many ways in which Juxtaposition can be used. Yet notably its most common usage is found within art and writing.

How To Understand Juxtaposition

There really is no need to over think this concept. Art can become Juxtaposed by merely placing two paintings side by side on a wall. This would allow contrast, comparison, and even compliment from one to the other.

While this is a very simplistic way of explaining the concept, it works much the same way with elements of art within a single work. Two elements such as color, or a simple line, can be placed side by side creating a comparison or contrast.

Objects likewise work the same way and this is what we are most familiar with. It is from this Juxtaposition that we are able to gain relationships with scale in art, ratio, balance, and even place emphasis within art.

I wish to highlight several key areas for artists that may be helpful in the creation of their artwork. It is from these foundations that you can begin to apply Juxtaposition to refine and create art.

How Juxtaposition Impacts Balance In Art

Juxtaposition plays a role within finding balance within art. When two elements or objects become juxtaposed you gain an immediate impression of their scale and ratio.

Likewise the more elements or objects that are added the greater understanding to this scale or ratio becomes evident. In turn we see how Juxtaposition impacts the weight of the objects and elements within their composition allowing for emphasis to be placed.

This becomes critically important to the geometry of the canvas. More importantly the question becomes whether or not more or less should be added to that image.

The weight of the objects by scale (size), their ratio in relationship to each other and surroundings, and other interaction within the art become the focus.

This focus can impact movement, emphasis, intended subject matter, or transition within elements like color. In turn focal points are created.

Abrupt shifts which do not allow for smooth transition can create conflict or greater contrasting within the art. Likewise smoother transitions with balanced weight will create comparison or compliment.

Each can play a role to achieve a desired outcome. Yet through the use of tools such as color theory and geometry we create great composition to build our desired outcome to our goal.

Using Juxtaposition With Creating Movement

An image of a ball on a canvass is just a ball. Place beside, a juxtaposed boy with outstretched arm into the image, and suddenly implied movement is created.

The scale and ratio in relationships of balance can create the illusion that the ball is moving away from the audience. This can be accomplished by scaling up the boy, or scaling down the ball.

Likewise the scale and ratio can make the ball appear to be moving towards the audience. This can be achieved in reverse by scaling up the ball, or scaling down the boy.

Here you find Juxtaposition being used with balance to create an implied movement in art. This simple concept can be done with great effect, especially when a creation is made from a point of view perspective.

Rather than a traditional work which works like a photograph capturing a setting, consider the image like a gopro capturing an event while in action. Here is where the power of these relationships begin to stand out.

Using Juxtaposition To Place Emphasis In Art

In order to gain emphasis in art through Juxtaposition, all comparison and contrast must be weighed against the selected emphasis. Therefore elements and object must either point to this emphasis, or by scale and ratio not overpower the emphasis.

Typically the emphasis will exist within the positive space of the art which traditionally makes this easier to achieve. Yet if emphasis lay more subjectively by interpretation to a moral, implied subject, or theme, this becomes more challenging.

Each element or object must speak to that intent. Likewise how the juxtaposed objects relate to each other within the work will share in how that story is told within their space.

In this case, less can be more, in terms of what is placed into the work for its meaning. Allowing for proper association through Juxtaposition can better communicate the intent of the art.

Juxtaposition can also be used to create emphasis within negative space. This too is more challenging. Examples of this can be found in more natural settings and is easier to picture within our minds.

An orchard with the home of the farmer in the background is a great example. Another can be a mountain range with the foreground being forest.

Here you have many objects building relationships to each other that ultimately divide the space into parts. Each collective part becomes a building block within its imagery and story.

How these blocks then relate to each other then dictate where the emphasis will be placed within the artwork. In turn how an audience will perceive this image will rely upon the sum of all juxtaposed elements and objects.

As you can see Juxtaposition is more often than not the verb within art that acts as a link between elements and objects. It is this linking which the sum of the whole depends upon for its composition.

Using Juxtaposition Across A Series Of Multiple Works

This can be a throwback in time to the mid 1900s, yet is also common to find today in home decor. You will see places where they offer a service to take an image and print it across multiple canvases.

These canvases are geometrically shaped to create an aesthetic pattern. The image is one single image that has been broken into parts across each canvas. When hung side by side you still see the whole of the image.

This is merely one way to use Juxtaposition in such a format. Here each canvas compliments the next for it is building the image they collectively carry together.

Another way to achieve this is to have individual paintings which are completely unique from one another yet place them side by side. When you wish to relate subject matter, theme, or build relating concepts, this can work well.

Juxtaposition Exists Beyond The Scope Of The Canvas

As you can see it is easy to understand what Juxtaposition is within a work of art. Unfortunately this topic is too often left within this scope alone.

While this next step is really outside of the artists responsibility, consideration must be made by those who curate, collect, or decorate with the art.

The art should communicate by Juxtaposition through the environment within which it is placed in a complimentary way. It is a two dimensional work which impacts a three dimensional space.

Interestingly enough scale, ratio, and balance along with emphasis still matter. The size of the art to the space of the room, its elements by color and geometry, and also its subject will play a role in this setting.

This becomes more critical within mobile art or three dimensional pieces such as sculptures. Form will impact how the art is juxtaposed to its surroundings.

Considerations must also be made for the medium which is used such as whether it is wood, ceramics, clay, or other material. With this will come other aspects such as texture.

Each of these play a role in how the art is juxtaposed to that environment. Commonly what most notice before any other element is the size by scale and ratio in its Juxtaposition to the environment.

We all pull out the tape measure to see if the art will fit into the desired space. Yet there is far more to consider in how it will impact this same space.

Principle Meaning Behind Juxtaposition

The principle meaning behind Juxtaposition is about relationships. It is how the different parts within the art each relate to the other parts. Likewise it is also about how the art itself relates to the environment it is placed within.

It is through these relationships that older standards such as the Golden Ratio came into the need for existence. Artists sought a desirable way that was predictable and repeatable to allow contrast and comparison, as well as compliment.

It is through these principles that geometry within art can be found. This is what can build beautiful and aesthetic art. The beginnings for these concepts are perhaps older than Classical Art.

Nevertheless it was within Classicism that we see these concepts move forward across time. The Greeks were among the first to perfect many principles which became a standard for art throughout all of history.

These tenets in turn allow us to build what we have today within art appreciation. With time and study a student can begin to understand that creating art is much like good writing.

Each element of a sentence ultimately will not only build the sentence, but also the paragraph. In turn the paragraph through its relationships will build the chapter and thus tell its story.

While it is best to not become hung up on any specific element, time in study within areas where a student may be weak is beneficial. Nevertheless Juxtaposition is a concept which should happen naturally.

Maintaining awareness to how it is used, especially within the geometry it can create, will allow for superior relationships and thus great aesthetics within art.