Max Bucaille

I chose to look at Bucaille’s work mainly due to his use of black and white. It has played a significant part in my compositions during my collage project. Of course, he is a primary influence in the evolution of collage as an art form, using old illustrated books to create surreal, dream like scenes. However, i wanted to focus more on his use of monochrome and self created textured pages that he implements into his collages. It is just the attitude of production that i have lucked into throughout my work in this field module. It has become a dominant visual hook of mine, to use the black and white images of man, vs the bright and colourful explosions of nature, and allow the two the intertwine in an almost abusive relationship.

Also, his use of the figure as a focal point of the composition is coincidentally relevant to the work i have produced so far. Having been exploring chinese prints and ‘shinto’ spirit beliefs, it has resulted in the continuation of a theme that largely involves a ‘spirit’ figure that is embodied within the image. All together, i think he is a master at making some weird and truly beautiful collage pieces, and as one of the main progresses of the art form, i really do revel in his attitude to image making.

Javier Pinon

Pinon’s work is drenched in symbolism that is purely personal to him. He describes his process as a form of psychological reformation, and uses his work as a way of exorcising his inner demons. I really appreciate his ability to draw from his inner self and emote some very ethereal images through a particularly selective process. His use of natural images, plant life, animals, and the human form, is the perfect concoction of what i’m trying to relate to in my own practice. During my work in this collage project, i’ve really enjoyed being able to focus on core images that will convey the message and impression of man vs. nature. I think this simplistic approach is preferable and through collage, i have learnt that less really does mean more. Avoiding creating a mess of erratic compositions on the page so as to get the structure of the meaning to build itself within the mind of the viewer.