Décollage
Encyclopedia
Décollage, in art
, is the opposite of collage
; instead of an image being built up of all or parts of existing images, it is created by cutting, tearing away or otherwise removing, pieces of an original image. Examples include inimage or etrécissements
and excavations. A similar technique is the lacerated poster, a poster in which one has been placed over another or others, and the top poster or posters have been ripped, revealing to a greater or lesser degree the poster or posters underneath.
The French word "décollage" translates into English literally as "take-off" or "to become unglued" or "to become unstuck". It is now commonly used in the French language in regard to aviation (as when an aeroplane lifts off the ground). More recently the term has been used in space flight; the web page for ESA indicates its use equivalent to "We have lift-off!" at a NASA
launch center.
The lacerated poster became an art form as early as 1949, and the term was coined in avante-garde journals by Emilio Villa in 1955. The exact chain-of-influence among artists is still to be determined by art historians. Although artist Mark Kostabi claims that "Mimmo Rotella
invented the technique of using torn posters to make art in the early 1950s", examples of the genre done without any surrealist or artistic intent predate this, as do Raymond Hains'. The lacerated poster was an artistic intervention that sought to critique the newly emerged advertising technique of large-scale colour advertisements. In effect, the decollage destroys the advertisement, but leaves its remnants on view for the public to contemplate.
Lacerated posters are closely related to Richard Genovese
's practice of "excavations."
The most celebrated artists of the décollage technique in France, especially of the lacerated poster, are François Dufrene, Jacques Villeglé
, Mimmo Rotella and Raymond Hains
. Often these artists worked collaboratively and it was their intention to present their artworks in the city of Paris anonymously. These four artists were part of a larger group in the 1960s called Nouveau Réalisme (New realism), Paris' answer to the American Pop movement. This was a mostly Paris-based group (which included Yves Klein
and Christo and was created with the help of critic Pierre Restany
), although Rotella was Italian and moved back to Italy shortly after the group was formed. Another important practitioner of the décollage was Wolf Vostell
. Some early practitioners sought to extract the defaced poster from its original context and to take it into areas of poetry, photography, or painting.
Contemporary artists employing similar décollage techniques are Mark Bradford
, who lives and works in Los Angeles, Brian Dettmer
, who employs a novel method of decollage by removing material from books, leaving behind select images and text to form sculptural collages and Fizz Fieldgrass, an English artist, who uses digitally enhanced photographic images, overlayed by duplication on either Japanese Conservation Grade or fine Paper Mulberry
, torn and rolled back to reveal other layers generating the three-dimensional image.
Déchirage (from the French, déchirer: ‘to tear’) is an artistic style that distresses paper to create a three-dimensional patchwork. It is a form of décollage, taking the original image apart physically through incision, parting and peeling away. Romare Bearden
(b. 1911 - d. 1988) the African American collage artist was first to record the description of déchirage. The first public display of "Photographic" Déchirage (the tearing of layers of digital photographs to create a distinctive three-dimensional image) was at the Art of Giving http://www.saatchionline.com/art/view/artist/162075/art/91318#comment-76575-91318 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery
in 2010.
It can be argued that the depliage is a form of décollage, as it is made by initially removing the staples from a staple-bound magazine
.
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, is the opposite of collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
; instead of an image being built up of all or parts of existing images, it is created by cutting, tearing away or otherwise removing, pieces of an original image. Examples include inimage or etrécissements
Surrealist techniques
Surrealism in art, poetry, and literature uses numerous techniques and games to provide inspiration. Many of these are said to free imagination by producing a creative process free of conscious control. The importance of the unconscious as a source of inspiration is central to the nature of...
and excavations. A similar technique is the lacerated poster, a poster in which one has been placed over another or others, and the top poster or posters have been ripped, revealing to a greater or lesser degree the poster or posters underneath.
The French word "décollage" translates into English literally as "take-off" or "to become unglued" or "to become unstuck". It is now commonly used in the French language in regard to aviation (as when an aeroplane lifts off the ground). More recently the term has been used in space flight; the web page for ESA indicates its use equivalent to "We have lift-off!" at a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
launch center.
The lacerated poster became an art form as early as 1949, and the term was coined in avante-garde journals by Emilio Villa in 1955. The exact chain-of-influence among artists is still to be determined by art historians. Although artist Mark Kostabi claims that "Mimmo Rotella
Mimmo Rotella
Domenico "Mimmo" Rotella, , was an Italian artist and poet best known for his works of décollage and psychogeographics, made from torn advertising posters.Rotella was born in Catanzaro, Calabria....
invented the technique of using torn posters to make art in the early 1950s", examples of the genre done without any surrealist or artistic intent predate this, as do Raymond Hains'. The lacerated poster was an artistic intervention that sought to critique the newly emerged advertising technique of large-scale colour advertisements. In effect, the decollage destroys the advertisement, but leaves its remnants on view for the public to contemplate.
Lacerated posters are closely related to Richard Genovese
Richard Genovese
Richard Misiano-Genovese is a collagist, photographer, painter, and theorist.Misiano-Genovese is the intitiator of the Altered Lithograph, Excavation Collage and Novel.-Publications:*#6...
's practice of "excavations."
The most celebrated artists of the décollage technique in France, especially of the lacerated poster, are François Dufrene, Jacques Villeglé
Jacques Villeglé
Jacques Villeglé, born Jacques Mahé de la Villeglé is a French mixed-media artist and affichiste famous for his alphabet with symbolic letters and decollage with ripped or lacerated posters...
, Mimmo Rotella and Raymond Hains
Raymond Hains
Raymond Hains was a French artist and photographer.-Biography:In 1945, Hains briefly enrolled in the sculpture course at the École des Beaux-Arts, Rennes and met Jacques de la Villeglé that same year. He then collaborated with E. Sougez as a photographer for France-Illustration...
. Often these artists worked collaboratively and it was their intention to present their artworks in the city of Paris anonymously. These four artists were part of a larger group in the 1960s called Nouveau Réalisme (New realism), Paris' answer to the American Pop movement. This was a mostly Paris-based group (which included Yves Klein
Yves Klein
Yves Klein was a French artist considered an important figure in post-war European art. He is the leading member of the French artistic movement of Nouveau réalisme founded in 1960 by the art critic Pierre Restany...
and Christo and was created with the help of critic Pierre Restany
Pierre Restany
Pierre Restany , was an internationally known French art critic and cultural philosopher.Restany was born in Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda, Pyrénées-Orientales, and spent his childhood in Casablanca. On returning to France in 1949 he attended the Lycée Henri-IV before studying at universities in France,...
), although Rotella was Italian and moved back to Italy shortly after the group was formed. Another important practitioner of the décollage was Wolf Vostell
Wolf Vostell
Wolf Vostell was a German painter, sculptor, noise music maker and Happening artist of the second half of the 20th century. Wolf Vostell is considered one of the pioneers of video art, environment-sculptures, Happenings and the Fluxus Movement...
. Some early practitioners sought to extract the defaced poster from its original context and to take it into areas of poetry, photography, or painting.
Contemporary artists employing similar décollage techniques are Mark Bradford
Mark Bradford
Mark Bradford is an American artist living and working in Los Angeles.-Life and work:He studied at the California Institute of the Arts, located at Valencia, California, U.S., earning an MFA in 1997 and a BFA in 1995....
, who lives and works in Los Angeles, Brian Dettmer
Brian Dettmer
Brian Dettmer is an American contemporary artist. He is noted for his alteration of preexisting media—such as old books, maps, record albums, and cassette tapes—to create new, transformed works of visual fine art.-Life and art:...
, who employs a novel method of decollage by removing material from books, leaving behind select images and text to form sculptural collages and Fizz Fieldgrass, an English artist, who uses digitally enhanced photographic images, overlayed by duplication on either Japanese Conservation Grade or fine Paper Mulberry
Paper Mulberry
The Paper Mulberry is a tree in the family Moraceae, native to eastern Asia. Other names include Dak, Halibun, Kalivon, Kozo, and Tapacloth tree.It is a deciduous tree growing to tall...
, torn and rolled back to reveal other layers generating the three-dimensional image.
Déchirage (from the French, déchirer: ‘to tear’) is an artistic style that distresses paper to create a three-dimensional patchwork. It is a form of décollage, taking the original image apart physically through incision, parting and peeling away. Romare Bearden
Romare Bearden
Romare Bearden was an African American artist and writer. He worked in several media including cartoons, oils, and collage.-Education:...
(b. 1911 - d. 1988) the African American collage artist was first to record the description of déchirage. The first public display of "Photographic" Déchirage (the tearing of layers of digital photographs to create a distinctive three-dimensional image) was at the Art of Giving http://www.saatchionline.com/art/view/artist/162075/art/91318#comment-76575-91318 exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery
Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery is a London gallery for contemporary art, opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985 in order to exhibit his collection to the public. It has occupied different premises, first in North London, then the South Bank by the River Thames and currently in Chelsea. Saatchi's collection, and...
in 2010.
It can be argued that the depliage is a form of décollage, as it is made by initially removing the staples from a staple-bound magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
.