We expect light to come from above,
as it does outdoors under daylight. When light appears from a different
direction (especially from below), objects appear “unnatural” and
perhaps disturbing. This phenomenon is often exhibited by children who
hold flashlights under their chins on Halloween!
By inverting the normal pattern of light and shadow we manipulate
meaningful visual signals. In this way the designer can dramatically
affect spatial and volumetric perceptions.
References
J. E. Flynn and A. W. Segil, Architectural Interior Systems, Van
Nostrand Reinhold, New York,
1970, p.131.
G. Kepes, Language of Vision, Paul Theobald, Chicago, IL, 1944.
