Surrational Images: Photomontages

by Scott Mutter

Book Overview

Photomontage, the combining of two or more negatives, can be traced back to the 1850s. Scott Mutter is a modern master of the art. His subtle images have enthralled viewers in exhibitions and galleries for more than a decade.

Although his work shares the recursive wit of Reneacute; Magritte an M. C. Escher, Mutter never relies simply upon ironic effects. With precision and authority his art explores the ideals and mythologies of our culture,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0252019350
• ISBN13: 9780252019357
• Release Date: October 1992
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 2.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.3" x 12.2"

Customer Reviews

Amazing book

This book is a wonderful collection of Scott Mutter's best artwork. The images are thought-provoking and truly inspirational. His image of the escalator is my absolute favorite work of art. If you are a fan of photomontage, I would highly recommend this book.

One of the most famous contemporary photographers

While many people criticize Scott Mutter's work, there is a true meaning behind almost all of his pieces. People do not like his work because they do not understand it or the difficult tasks he completed to make these works. I recently attended a lecture given by Mr. Mutter where he explained the thought process behind most of his photographs. He is truly an artistic genius. For Example, in his piece the Grave there is a revolving door. While most people say that he is implying reincarnation, this is incorrect. If you look closely you can see another door behind it that is closed. He told us that with this piece he meant to say that we can try and try to find out what is behind that solid door (representing death), but we can never know until we have passed because the door is locked. Many of the images in the book are not finished. During his lecture, Mr. Mutter constantly told us that he was eventually going to go back to pieces and work on them more. I know that a lot of what I'm saying doesn't concern the book, but my point is that this man is a creative genius and his work is truly mesmerizing. This book will make you look twice at many of the pictures. And if you really try to think about the pieces and look at the detail in them, you can find deeper meanings in them. Do not pass this book by. There is a reason why so many of his pieces have been made into posters. It is because this man's work is unbelievably amazing.

Hmmm

Scott Mutter's collection has motivated me to evaluate our culture. Postmodernism and The Ecclectic have really become essential to the way that our society, as a whole, thinks. Sometimes I sit and stare at his work and try to understand. They are so odd. What does he mean? What do the photographs mean? Because this body of work has helped me to think, I rate it very highly. It has been the beginning of many meaningful and intelligent discussions.

A delight, yet a mystery.

Mutter is amazing. His work is intriguing, yet soothing to look at. I encourage everyone to buy this book. It left me with a feeling of sheer excitement. Thank you, Scott Mutter for allowing me to truly see what my eyes would merely glance at

It's a delight to the eye and the mind.

The surrational photomontages of Scott Mutter are extraordinary. They stir the both emotions and the imagination. Any fans of photography or surrealism must add this to their collection. It is one of the few books that I have come across that the majority of my colleagues enjoy. In fact I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't react in a positive manner to these images. This collection stirs the imagination as well as the best novel I have ever read.