Montage: Activity 4

Find two examples of photomontages that are either from a commercial source or from a fine art background. Discuss in what context they have been produced and what techniques they share with political photomontages.
What messages, if any, are communicated through these photomontages and how effective do you think they are? Consider different ways that each image could have been tackled by the artist and come up with an idea for ‘another in the series’.

Thomas Barbey

Untitled, 1982 Jerry Uelsmann

           The context in which these photomontages have been created are not exactly illustrated but it is clear that both images were created by someone who possesses a fine art background. The seamless merging of these photomontages implies that the artists knew what they were doing and knew how to manipulate their resources to their benefit. Just as political photomontages have a subtle (or not so subtle) message these montages do as well. The first has a sense of perspective and the incorporation of everyday objects with those who are not so common, combining a daring feat such as skiing or snowboarding with a commonplace table and tablecloth. The second conveys the message of roots and creating a steady foundation upon which a home and family will be built. It is a perfect illustration of the phrase "home is where your roots are". Not exactly worded like that but most people know what the basic point is.

           It would be relatively easy for the artists to continue on to make a series from these photomontages. Based upon the effective conveyance of the messages in their first montages this would be an easy task. Barbey could likely create another image in which athletes were performing on an everyday surface/environment and Uelsmann could further combine more earthly elements with human-made objects. Barbey stitched together an image of a ski slope and a tablecloth to make it appear as if the skiiers were going down a tablecloth - it makes them look small in comparison to their surroundings and Uelsmann bonded a tree's roots with an old, two-story home, both of which required critical thinking and trial-and-error approaches. It is likely that they both had a dominant theme for which they were trying to accomplish.