Infrared Montage Photos by Michel Franks
I am an avid collector of small items from past times. These pictures represent ephemera from the 30's, 40's and 60's collated on a surface and painstakingly arranged to form coherent tableaus. The juxtaposition of images and items photographed in natural light produces colourful and sometimes enigmatic representations. Everything from a bus ticket to an old torn photograph, when arranged with other things becomes another statement.
In connection with the page referring to abstract and detail a new significance is aimed at. The Objet Trouve' in combination with other found objects and items (usually totally unconnected) arrive at surrealist representations.
These images do occur naturally and yet like R Mutt's urinal in the art gallery they are usually contrived. The way in which disparate objects talk to each other and make a third statement is the essence of surrealism.