Defying Gravity

A powerful element in art is the act of defying what we consider normal, natural laws of nature. One of the most obvious laws of nature that we use to construct our perception of reality is gravity. Stewart (2012) describes gravity as "the most immediately noticeable when we begin to construct a three-dimensional structure. Lines, spaces, and volumes must be organized according to the laws of physics while simultaneously meeting our aesthetic objectives". However, when artists realize that gravity can be used as more of a malleable tool than a concrete rule, their artwork becomes liberated on a fundamental level. Stewart (2012) recognizes this by stating, "when we begin to analyze the uses of gravity in sculpture, we soon find that it is an asset rather than a liability". The below artwork illustrates this realization perfectly. After all, gravity is simply an elemental aspect of our Earth. In space, and ultimately in the Universe, gravity is no more than an elemental component, rather than an absolute constant. The image below makes the audience question what our world might look like if gravity simply ceased to exist.