Surrational Images: PHOTOMONTAGES

by Scott Mutter

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Editorial Reviews

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, mainly in the Midwest, for a decade. "The response has been overwhelming", curator Martin Krause commented of an exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. "I've had people calling me on the telephone telling me what a great show this is. That happens so rarely. For whatever reason, Scott's work is connecting with people". In the past year his work has attracted attention nationwide, and his posters are now available in galleries from coast to coast. Richly and immediately accessible, yet deeply resonant, Mutter's photomontages provoke strong responses: curiosity, awe, laughter, and then contemplation. They are creative fusions of elements that draw us irresistibly to look again at what first appears unbelievable. Boundaries dissolve miraculously; the impossible becomes seductively tangible. But the logic of his images is exact, reasoned - in his own term, "surrational". Although his work shares the recursive wit of Rene Magritte and M. C. Escher, Mutter never relies simply upon ironic effects. With precision and authority his art explores the ideals and mythologies of our culture, history, language, and art, both lamenting and celebrating contemporary civilization. "From the very beginning", states Mutter, "I tried to make images that people would find accessible and exciting. Art is no idle thing; people want to see something and be held in wonder". In short, he is a master at turning a glance into a gaze. In his foreword Martin Krause reviews the hundred-year history ofphotomontage and examines Mutter's unparalleled influence within that tradition.

Customer Reviews

Wishlist gift sent to family, 2008-03-21
by Giamatti fan (United States)

My SIL had this on her wishlist. I sent it to her at Christmas and she was so happy to have it. I think these types of coffee table books we don't always justify to get for ourselves. She loves surreal art and specifically asked for this book amoung a few choices. I'm glad to get something she wants!

3rd rate photomontage, 2005-02-12
by W. S. Sarle (Gainesville, FL, USA)

Compared to Jerry Uelsmann's work, these images are boring, unimaginative, and technically mediocre. The book also suffers from misregistered half-tone printing.

One of the most famous contemporary photographers, 2002-09-18 (Urbana, IL)

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.

Real art and much more than mere camera trickery, 2001-12-17
by Richard Cody (Oakland, The Golden State)

Photo montage is not an art form that I was familiar with prior to receiving this collection as a gift. Having studied this book, it seems to me that photo montage, unlike painting, straight photography or other visual arts, has a quality of novelty about it that would make it easy for the snobbish to disregard the form as a lesser artistic effort.

Well, I am not a snob and for me the novelty of Mr. Mutter's work has not worn off. I must say that not all of the images in this book "work" for me (hence four stars). Those that do, however, impact me at a level that is profound and just as deep as any painting, poem or movie has ever touched. In particular I am thinking of the grave with the revolving door, the trees growing from the parquet floor, the swan swimming atop a marble floor and the house residing in a copse of trees from which a dark and monolithic statue arises. All of the images in this book are black and white, which somehow lends each one a certain quality of veracity. It is really pointless, however, to describe these images as they must be seen to be appreciated.

So let us describe the book itself. A true coffee table edition, it is oversized just enough to allow each image a full page to itself (and sometimes more). The last few pages of the book are comprised of notes (listed by numbers which correspond to each picture) from the artist regarding the inspiration, execution and intent of each piece. This text is generally illuminating but occasionally sparse - as with the aforementioned grave image.

A great book on the whole that should prove inspiring, intriguing and entertaining for anyone with a sense of wonder and imagination

Hmmm, 1999-12-19
by Another Photographer (Portland, Oregon)

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.