Remove the Key Element!

Many objects have a defining feature that makes them instantly recognizable.

For a door, it might be the handle.

For a plane, its wings.

For a chair, its legs.

We could go on listing examples for nearly every object we know.

Obviously, for a cage, it’s the bars.

But what happens when you take them away? In this case, two things happen:

1) We still recognize it as a cage. Even without seeing the bars, our brain fills in the missing shapes, and other elements help us understand what it is.

2) We give it a new meaning. Removing something doesn’t necessarily mean subtracting. It can mean adding, enriching.

A cage without bars conveys a much deeper meaning than just a simple cage.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Here’s a fascinating example of the “out of context” technique, a creative approach that invites us to rethink what we expect to see.

The concept is straightforward yet powerful: take an element—be it a person, animal, or object—and place it in a setting where it doesn’t logically belong. This intentional disruption of context challenges our assumptions and sparks new interpretations.

Consider this: it’s normal to see a person inside a cell. But what if their actions defy expectations? What if they’re doing something that feels completely out of place?

This unexpected twist draws attention and makes us pause to think.

Here’s another scenario: imagine a swimmer.

Where do you see them?

Most of us picture them in a pool or perhaps an open sea. Now, place that same swimmer inside a cage. The disruption is surprising, even shocking, but it’s also interesting. It’s this very mix of ideas, context and expectation, that creates a metaphorical message with deep meaning.