Mind the Gap: How space can make us whole
- Gemma Gittins
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
It was during Monty Don’s BBC coverage* of the Tokonoma Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show that I was introduced to the Japanese concept of Ma (pronounced mah). *Monty also talks about Wabi-Sabi, a concept I’ve touched on before!
I’d been sat on the sofa, happily chatting with my husband about new ideas for this blog, and there it was – handed to me on a plate - a concept I’d never heard of but was instantly struck by. Down the rabbit hole I went, and this is what I discovered.
Ma is often translated as ‘negative space’, but it is much more than that; it is the intentional emptiness that gives form its meaning. In this busy world, Ma reminds us that the space between things is just as important as the things themselves.
Why I was drawn to Ma
Have you ever noticed how the most magical part of a song is actually a moment of silence? Or how a beautiful living room feels light not because of the colour, but the space between the armchairs?
This concept captures that exact feeling for me. Written as 間 - which combines the characters for gate and sun - it literally depicts the sun shining through the gap in a doorway. It stands for the negative space, the intentional pause, and the quiet intervals that allow everything else to exist.
In our modern lives, many of us have learnt to fear empty space; we fill our schedules, our cupboards, and - if we aren't careful - our minds, until they are bursting at the seams. A little space could be just what we need.
The Power of Negative Space in Art
When painting, sketching, or printing, the natural instinct is to focus entirely on the subject – what colour is the flower, where does that building sit in the landscape, how does the shape of the bird’s beak relate to its body? Ma asks us to change our gaze and look at the shapes created around the subject and the relationship they have with each other.
It also teaches us that giving a piece room to breathe on the page isn't the same as leaving it unfinished. Space gives the eye a place to rest, making the focal point shine all the brighter.
Next time you are working on something and feel the urge to add just one more thing (A.K.A faffing!), try pausing instead. Step back, look at the gaps, and see if the piece might actually be asking for a little more room to breathe.
The Rhythm of the Making
Ma isn't just a physical space; it is also a time interval. Think of the rhythmic pause between stitches in embroidery or the moment of tension right before a knitter passes their yarn across the needles.
When we stop rushing and enjoy the quiet gaps between actions, the process of making can become a form of active meditation. The pause can be as satisfying as the progress.
Room for Inspiration
That being said, Ma can be applied to our physical spaces, too. A cluttered workspace can lead to a cluttered mind. Try introducing a little of the Ma principle to your table next time you sit down to create.
Move aside everything except the tools you need right now. Notice if the pocket of emptiness left behind has created space for a new idea to pull up a chair.
The 10-Minute Ma Challenge
So how do we bring the concept of Ma off the screen and into real life? Have a go at my little drawing challenge.
You don’t need any formal drawing skills for this - in fact, the less you worry about creating a ‘perfect’ picture, the better it works.
What You Need:
A plain sheet of paper
A dark fine-liner or pencil
An everyday object with interesting gaps and shapes (such as a leafy houseplant, a pair of scissors, a wicker basket, or a bunch of keys)
A timer
Minute 1: Set up your scene
Place your chosen object on the table in front of you against a plain wall or background.
Close your eyes, take one deep breath, and let go of any pressure to create a masterpiece.
Minutes 2 & 3: Find the hidden shapes
Open your eyes and look at the object for 15 seconds.
For the rest of the two minutes, instead of looking at the object, look only at the empty air trapped inside and around it. Look for the triangle of light between the scissor handles or the gaps between the leaves.
Notice that the emptiness has its own specific shape.
Minutes 4 – 10: Draw the spaces, not the things
Put your pen to paper - your goal is to sketch only the outlines of those empty spaces. If you are drawing a mug, don't draw the mug - draw the shape of the air inside the handle.
Look at the drawing itself as infrequently as possible, instead focusing your eyes on the spaces you are drawing. Let your pen track the edges of where the object ends and the emptiness begins.
Notice the shift - you should feel a distinct click in your brain – you will stop drawing a houseplant and start drawing a beautiful, jagged piece of a puzzle.
When your timer goes off, take a look at your page. Enjoy the abstract, floating map of the air around your object as a visual record of you honouring the pause - a little piece of Ma captured on paper.
Give it a try this week and leave a comment below to let us know how it felt. Were you able to switch your focus from the form to the space?
Comments