baseline
Symmetric balance
Mirrored large masses create an obvious axis-based equilibrium.
Symmetry, Asymmetry, and Visual Balance
対称・非対称と視覚的均衡
Compare equal-size canvases with the same number of abstract elements while changing the distribution of visual mass, so symmetry can be separated from the broader idea of visual balance.
Variable
distribution of visual mass
Held constant
- canvas dimensions
- element count
- abstract block vocabulary
- background
Hypothesis
A composition can feel balanced without mirror symmetry, while an asymmetric arrangement can also become visibly unstable when unequal mass is not counterweighted by position, scale, or surrounding space.
Related Knowledge
Comparison
Candidates
3 controlled conditions
variant
Asymmetric but balanced
Unequal masses are distributed across position and scale rather than mirrored.
counterexample
Asymmetric and left-heavy
Deliberately concentrates most visual mass on one side to show that asymmetry alone does not imply balanced composition.
Current observation
Symmetry is one route to visual balance, not its definition. Asymmetric balance depends on the perceived distribution of visual weight, while arbitrary imbalance remains possible even when the layout is intentionally asymmetric.