Rudolf Arnheim, The Power of The Center: A Study of Composition in The Visual Arts

Installation Art and the Elaboration of Psychological Concepts: A Definition of the Term ‘Excursive’

“…However, through such traditional gestalt notions one can better understand the instability of excursive objects. Arnheim insists that perception brings forth centric (gravitational and eccentric) dynamic forces (Arnheim [1983(Arnheim [ ] 1984. In his theory, the artwork also sends out its 'vectors', which act upon the viewers and determine the dynamics of their approach and receding (Arnheim [1983(Arnheim [ ] 1984.…”

“…Arnheim insists that perception brings forth centric (gravitational and eccentric) dynamic forces (Arnheim [1983(Arnheim [ ] 1984. In his theory, the artwork also sends out its 'vectors', which act upon the viewers and determine the dynamics of their approach and receding (Arnheim [1983(Arnheim [ ] 1984. When the viewers leave their position as a center and interrupt their own activity, the object starts operating with its own structure independently of the subject.…”

“…The viewer finds himself in an indeterminate psychological zone; the attempt to 'step on' the elements arranged on the floor also turns out to be challenging. These elements are placed below the line of sight which, according to Arnheim, increases an impression of over-accessibility (Arnheim [1983(Arnheim [ ] 1984. The entry into their concrete materiality, however, acts as a form of departure from the psychological work of art.…”

“…Within the gallery space, this difficulty is, however, evaded by means of a scarcity of elements. Instead of reaching a critical state, as would be the case in a real environment, the imperceptible presence and givenness of excursive objects in the gallery creates a perceptive dilemma and hinders the constructive action of the subjective point of view (Arnheim [1983(Arnheim [ ] 1984.…”