The art of collage has long been a powerful medium for exploring the subconscious, blending disparate elements to craft striking symbolic narratives. In our 15 years installing… In the hands of skilled contemporary artists, this avant-garde technique becomes a canvas for surreal, metaphorical storytelling that invites deeper contemplation from the viewer.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive…
Unlocking the Surrealist Collage Process
Collage is a mode of artistic expression that allows for an intuitive, experimental approach to image-making. By carefully selecting, arranging, and layering diverse materials, artists can weave together complex symbolic meanings that transcend the individual components. This unique process lends itself well to the surrealist tradition, which seeks to harness the power of the unconscious mind and unveil the poetic potential of the irrational.
“I often think about how ambiguity plays a role with these shapes, but also the historical or psychological role some of them inhabit,” explains collage artist Paul Loughney. “The edges of the shapes can be as important as the whole. I understand that the combination of certain elements produces a surreal effect as they seem incompatible and incongruous and dream-like.”
Loughney’s series “Consequences of Competing Narratives” and “Spirit Portraits” exemplify this approach, blending found imagery, geometric abstractions, and symbolic motifs to create captivating surrealist compositions. By distorting familiar forms and juxtaposing unexpected elements, he invites the viewer to engage in a process of deciphering the hidden meanings and narrative threads woven throughout the work.
Cultivating Creative Inspiration
Collage artists often draw inspiration from a diverse array of sources, both conscious and subconscious. Andrea Borsuk, whose mixed media paintings and installations explore the intersection of the theatrical and the surreal, speaks to the importance of embracing the unexpected in her creative process:
“I approach magazines as if they are an ‘anthropological document’ and will excavate bodies, forms, shapes, and symbols out of them. There is a large range of things I seek out and each page can have more than one option. Chance is part of the selection process, never knowing what I’m going to find, and sometimes it influences the work in new ways.”
This willingness to let chance and serendipity guide the creative journey is a hallmark of the surrealist approach, allowing artists to tap into the wellspring of the subconscious and uncover unexpected visual metaphors. Whether sourcing materials from vintage magazines, found objects, or their own drawings and paintings, collage artists cultivate a diverse library of imagery to serve as the building blocks for their symbolic narratives.
Incorporating Metaphor and Symbolism
The power of collage lies in its ability to juxtapose seemingly unrelated elements, generating new meanings and associations in the mind of the viewer. By strategically incorporating metaphorical imagery and symbolic motifs, artists can craft layered, evocative works that invite deeper contemplation.
“Visual ambiguity has been part of my artistic vocabulary for years,” Loughney explains. “Creating shapes and symbols that are familiar yet unrecognizable creates tension and mystery that is exciting to me. The symbols and shapes emerge because I’m interested in how they can function as a metalanguage to add to any story, and I feel that the process of collage allows me to function as a storyteller, allowing the viewer to fill in any blanks with their imagination.”
Elements like the silhouetted canary, disembodied faces, and gestural hands become charged symbols in Loughney’s work, serving as touchpoints for the viewer to navigate the surreal, dreamlike landscapes he constructs. Similarly, Concordiart‘s mixed media paintings incorporate figures, shapes, and patterns that function as a “hieroglyph or part of an alphabet of human emotions, like symbols from ancient calligraphy.”
By building upon a rich visual vocabulary of metaphorical imagery, collage artists can create works that transcend the literal and invite the viewer to engage in a process of interpretation and meaning-making.
Acrylic Painting Techniques for Surrealist Collage
While collage inherently lends itself to surrealist explorations, many artists also incorporate painting techniques to further enhance the dreamlike quality of their work. Acrylics, in particular, offer a versatile medium for layering, blending, and rendering symbolic imagery within a collage composition.
One approach is to start with an abstract, gestural acrylic underpainting that serves as a foundation for the collaged elements. This can create a sense of depth and atmosphere, grounding the disparate materials in a cohesive visual field. Transparent washes, drips, and textural applications of paint can also be used to unify the composition and suggest the ambiguous, subconscious nature of the imagery.
“I approach the painting in a similar fashion, creating a ground first, which is usually abstract or with an awareness (and enjoyment) of paint application,” explains Borsuk. “Then I usually incorporate figures and forms that are layered and integrated, creating new stories and connections within the piece.”
By integrating acrylic painting techniques with collage elements, artists can further blur the line between the real and the imagined, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the symbolic narratives unfolding before them.
Exploring Narrative Through Mixed Media
Beyond the use of collage and painting, many contemporary artists are expanding their visual vocabularies by incorporating a diverse range of mixed media elements into their surrealist explorations. From delicate ink drawings to bold charcoal sketches, the strategic integration of various drawing techniques can lend an additional layer of expressive power to the overall composition.
“I often ‘begin’ in the studio by making works on paper,” Borsuk shares. “I notice that I take more risks and play, knowing there is nothing to be precious about. On paper, I usually employ water-based media (such as gouache, inks, graphite and collage) and because there is no waiting-for-the-paint-to-dry, I can be impulsive and experimental, and that is always where the breakthroughs happen for me.”
The interplay between collage, painting, and drawing allows artists to create richly textured, visually compelling works that captivate the viewer. By seamlessly blending these diverse media, they can craft symbolic narratives that transcend the limitations of any single technique, inviting deeper exploration and interpretation.
Contextualizing Surrealist Collage within the Art Historical Landscape
The surrealist collage tradition has its roots in the early 20th century avant-garde movements, with pioneers like Hannah Höch, Max Ernst, and Raoul Hausmann pioneering the use of this medium to challenge societal norms and tap into the subconscious. These artists recognized the power of collage to disrupt conventional representations and create new, fantastical realities.
Today, contemporary collage artists continue to build upon this rich legacy, adapting the medium to reflect the unique visual and conceptual sensibilities of the modern era. By incorporating references to pop culture, technology, and the ever-evolving social landscape, they craft symbolic narratives that resonate with a new generation of art enthusiasts.
As Borsuk notes, the influence of these historical surrealist and abstract expressionist movements can be seen in the work of many emerging artists: “I was looking at David Salle and Eric Fischl, Cindy Sherman, Nancy Spero, Ida Applebroog, Marlene Dumas, Annette Messager, Sigmar Polke as well as abstract artists, Terry Winters and Brice Marden.”
By contextualizing their practice within this broader art historical framework, collage artists are able to participate in an ongoing dialogue, reinventing and reinterpreting the symbolic language of the surreal to address the pressing concerns of the present day.
Conclusion: Embracing the Surreal in Contemporary Art
As the art world continues to evolve, the timeless appeal of surrealist collage endures. By embracing the power of metaphor, symbolism, and the subconscious, contemporary artists are crafting visually captivating works that invite deeper contemplation and personal interpretation.
Whether through the strategic integration of painting, drawing, and found materials, or the careful curation of symbolic imagery, collage has become a vital medium for exploring the mysteries of the human experience. As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, the surreal narratives woven by these artists offer a portal into realms of the imagination, challenging us to see the world anew.
So, let us venture forth into the realm of the surreal, armed with an open mind and a willingness to be enchanted by the unexpected. For within the dreamlike landscapes of collage lies the potential to unlock the secrets of the soul, and to uncover the hidden poetry that lies within the everyday.
Statistic: Studies reveal that engaging with diverse art techniques boosts creative output by over 40%