Collage Now

 In the summer of 2012 guest editor Leah Taylor visited the studio of Vancouver based artist Randy Grskovic. While there, Taylor had the opportunity to view the early stages of Grskovic’s (now prolific) series of collages from found photographs. The studio visit fuelled a discussion at BlackFlash Magazine regarding the work members of our editorial committee has seen across Canada that shared the impetus of found photographs and manipulated images. 

Paul Buttler, Aislinn Legget and Randy Grksovic have three very diverse art practices, yet all there artists have utilized cut-outs and collage as a medium to examine critical concerns. Additionally, their works shares conceptual pedagogical threads related to memory, power, humor and the archives.

Lost and Found

Randy Grskovic began scanning photographic archives from his childhood as a means to preserve those memories. In the process he discovered missing photographs, which revealed gaps, not only his own childhood, but also in societies collective memory. Grskovic problematizes issues surrounding archives, digitization and memory by asking the following questions, “What happens when the document is lost; what really happened; how can we be sure?”

 In one of his most recent series, Grskovic worked primarily with found photographs acquired from flea markets and antique stores. He cuts and manipulates the photos into precise collage patterns, which he considers to be a collaboration with the original photographer.

“When I approach these found photographs I think about the people in the and the person who took them. Each one is unique; the framing of the shots are various based on the “style” of the person documenting, the event, as well as their interaction with the subjects in the photo.”

 In his found photograph series Grskovic’s approach is to aesthetically alter the classic vintage polaroid from its original document into a more futuristic, ironic and forward-thinking image. Through his collages he creates a relevant and cyclical dialogue between technology, history, memory and contemporary art.

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Randy Grskovic, http://www.randygrskovic.com/post/37849084735. Accessed on December 16, 2012.