Untitled 

Katrien De Blauwer made this untitled piece, likely in the 21st century, using found images and collage techniques. These aren't traditional art materials, but fragments of mass-produced magazines or photographs. De Blauwer’s practice is rooted in repurposing existing materials. She physically cuts and assembles these images, creating new relationships and meanings. The texture of the paper, its aged quality, and the visible seams of the collage contribute to the work's impact, emphasizing the act of construction. Consider how the work is a manipulation of commercial images, subverting their original intent through deconstruction and reassembly. There is a distinct labor involved, a hands-on process that reclaims these images from their capitalist origins, and transforms them into something more personal and evocative. The inherent social commentary lies in this act of taking apart and re-contextualizing, challenging the slick perfection of mass media. Ultimately, this approach demonstrates how the manipulation of materials and the act of making can elevate everyday images into poignant works of art.