Photograph as Material
Definition
This term refers to the use of photographs or photographic elements as a physical material in the creation of artworks, often involving cutting, collaging, manipulating, or layering photographic images to create new compositions or forms. This approach allows artists to explore the materiality of photography and the ways in which photographic images can be transformed and recontextualized.
History
The concept of using photographs as material gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly with the rise of collage, assemblage, and conceptual art. Artists like John Stezaker and Christian Marclay have used photographs in innovative ways, cutting, layering, and rearranging them to create works that challenge traditional notions of photography as a purely representational medium.
Notable Examples
John Stezaker
Marriageseries, 2007-2013
Christian Marclay
Telephones, 1995
Key Artists & Movements
Key figures include John Stezaker, whose collages often involve cutting and recombining photographic portraits to create surreal, fragmented images, and Christian Marclay, known for his video collages that use found footage and photographic images to explore themes of time, memory, and media.
Techniques & Materials
Techniques involve the physical manipulation of photographic prints or images, such as cutting, tearing, folding, or layering, to create new compositions or forms. Artists may use glue, tape, or digital tools to assemble the images, often exploring the tension between the photographic image and its transformation into a new material object. The use of photographs as material allows artists to engage with issues of identity, memory, and media, often creating works that are both visually and conceptually complex.
2940 Portland Dr.
Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6H5W8
Khalifa Blvd, Dubai, UAE
[email protected]
