The Age of Collage
Surfacing as a result of cubism, artists have adopted collage throughout the Futurist, Dada, Surrealist and Pop Art movements. The title and accompanying exhibition, ‘The Age of Collage’ delves into contemporary collage.
Today the process of collage is integrated within life, as people store memories in photo books and frames, and designers collage their ideas in mood boards to generate concepts for advertising and branding.
The digital age has allowed for mass repetition and ability to alter images, as well as endless possibilities for layouts. Contemporary collage can be viewed as a response to the digital age, with many artists opting for paper and scissors. The ‘Age of Collage’ presents a selection of works from the artists who shy away from technology, utilising traditional mediums.
The 272 pages of ‘The Age of Collage’ highlight the tactile nature of the art form and the intuitive process that artists use to create their works. The restrictions that are created by working with collected paper and magazines force artists to explore and guide themselves through the creative process. The result is a selection of strange and sometimes bizarre images where animals and nature are merged into the human form and scale is used to create humour.
The release of the publication coincides with an exhibition of the same name that features pieces from 30 artists. ‘The Art of Collage’ is on display within the Gestalten Space, Berlin from Friday 15 November 2013 until Sunday 5 January 2014. The hardcover title ‘The Age of Collage’ is published by Gestalten.
