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Informal & Formal

Balance

Art II, Art Talk ch. 9created by Zoe Williams

October 2007

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Formal BalanceFormal BalanceBilaterally symmetrical

Official

Balanced

Stable

Serious

Predictable

Government building, Moscow, Russia

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Informal Informal BalanceBalance

Asymmetrical

CasualUnbalanced

UnstablePlayful

Unpredictable

Disney Hall, Los Angeles, California, Frank Gehry

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Informal Balance has no central axis and no symmetry.

In an image with informal balance,objects on one side may appear heavierthan objects on the other side.

5Nostalgia of the Infinite, 1911

Melancholy & Mystery of a Street, 1913

Giorgio de Chirico, Italian painter (1888-1978)

He was known for long shadows and informal balance.Informal balance here makes the viewer wonder

what is happening in the scene.

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Diego Rivera, Mexican artist

(1886-1957)

known for formal balance

and depicting everyday activities.

Using formal balance

Makes the people

in his paintings

seem serious

and important

instead of

casual and

ordinary.

Man Carrying Calla Lilies

Kneeling Child

El Vendedor de Alcatraces

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Both bilateral symmetry and approximate symmetry have formal balance

and approximate bilateral symmetryBilateral symmetry

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QUIZ TIME…

You may use your notes!

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Guggenheim Art Museum, Bilbao, Spain

1.Which architect created this building?

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Gehry

Frank N. Stein

2. What kind of

forms do you see,

organic or geometric?

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3. Which type of balance does this painting have?

informal balanceformal balanceapproximate balance

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4. You are an architect designing a new bank. The bank should appear safe and stable. Which type of balance should you choose for the building?

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5. You are an architect creating a new modern art museum. Which type of balance should you choose to show that the museum is fun and modern?

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6. This painting by Leonardo da Vinci shows which type of balance?

7. Explain how you know it has this type of balance.

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8. Leonardo da Vinci is from the same country as artistGiorgio de Chirico. Which country is that?

MexicoGreeceItaly

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9. This painting is approximately symmetrical.Which kind of balance does it have?

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10. Which artist created this painting?

Giorgio de ChiricoDiego RiveraLeonardo da Vinci

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11. What is this artist’s heritage?

ItalianDutchMexican

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Answers:1.Frank Gehry2. organic3. informal balance4. formal balance5. informal balance6. informal balance7. There is no central axis. The tree, child, and lamb

make the right side heavier than the left.8. Italy9. formal balance10. Diego Rivera11. Mexican