Collage is a process that brings multiple elements from various visual sources onto a stage to be seen together as one image. The process I created for this project brought many images found throughout magazines onto one plane to be seen in one instant. Using entertainment and fashion magazines, I singled out an element of photography--blue jeans, jewelry, teeth, and hair--and placed the cut-out element onto the 6"x6" paper. The position of the element was determined by its original location on the magazine page. I placed the magazine page on top of my paper, with the corner closest to the element aligned with the same corner of my paper, and adhered the image to the paper, leaving all of its surroundings behind. I began at the front (beginning) of the magazine and scanned each page for my chosen element. Elements that were found early on in the magazine were placed first, becoming the background images, covered up by later images. Time is not lost entirely in the static form because the time sequence of the magazine dictates the placement of the cut-outs. The final images interest me because although the images are ordinary, a sort of mystery is involved when the context of each image is omitted. The repetition of form becomes apparent when an element is layered together on one page rather than seen while flipping through many, each image completely visible. The regularity of the images contrasts against the mystery by becoming essentially representation of form and color. The process reflects my choices and aesthetics, but the original placement of the images ultimately creates the final compositions.
