Negative space, the unoccupied or empty areas surrounding a sculpture, is a powerful tool sculptors use to evoke emotion and create visual tension. By deliberately carving voids or leaving gaps, artists manipulate the viewer's perception, drawing attention to both the solid form and the emptiness that defines it.

One technique involves contrasting dense material with open spaces, as seen in Henry Moore's abstract figures. The interplay between mass and void forces the eye to oscillate, generating dynamic tension. Similarly, Barbara Hepworth pierced her sculptures with holes, transforming negative space into an active compositional element that suggests movement and energy.

Modern sculptors often exaggerate negative space to challenge traditional notions of balance. By removing expected material, they create instability, compelling viewers to mentally "fill in" the missing parts. This psychological engagement heightens the artwork's impact, making the absence as meaningful as the presence.

Ultimately, negative space isn't merely empty—it's a carefully calculated absence that breathes life into stone, metal, or wood, proving that what isn't there can be as compelling as what is.