Featuring; Neisha Azzopardi, Paul Forde Cialis, Edwin Cridland, Alison Cronin, Tom Doig and Susan Montgomery.
The origin of the word collage is literally to glue or paste, however collage is now used in so many ways that this definition is no longer accurate. In a world overwhelmed with images the creation of something completely new becomes less and less likely. Creativity comes in combining what is already there in new and interesting ways, upcycling if you will.
Collage; an assemblage or an occurrence of diverse elements or fragments in unlikely or unexpected juxtaposition (Dictionary.com)
This definition seems more appropriate than the physical act of gluing to a surface. An Occurrence of Diverse Elements juxtaposes a number of artists who each explore collage in different ways, but share an interest in combining individual elements within a surface to create something new.
Neisha Azzopardi works with automatic writing to bring text collage into her mixed media work. Automatic writing itself creates a collage effect with words, diverse elements and fragments of thoughts strung together by the subconscious.
Paul Forde Cialis says; ‘The collage aesthetic is a very significant medium to me, as it taps into my subconscious by creating unlikely juxtapositions using imagery garnered from both popular and archaic culture.’ His work brings what can seem like a haphazard accumulation of images together, in a way that often provides its own darkly humorous narrative.
Edwin Cridland's series of digital photo-montages, move collage completely into the digital world, where the pixels themselves are the glue that binds them. His richly textured prints playfully subvert the notion that the camera never lies, and add new layers to what we think we see.
Alison Cronin's collages use archival photographs, rather than commercially produced imagery and cutting through techniques that emphasise the nature of surface as a two dimensional reflection of reality. For her, photographs are a moment in time, captured in a surface that can be manipulated, re-aligned, or obscured.
Tom Doig brings us back to the original definition of gluing images carefully clipped from his vast collection of printed imagery to create complex, skillful compositions. Work shown includes a series of marine themed works were created as part of a commission for the Ocean to City festival in Cork.
Susan Montgomery works with found objects to create simple delicate works that combine a variety of materials. The most 3 dimensional of the collages featured here her works exemplify the idea of diverse elements being brought together to become something new.