Surrational Images: PHOTOMONTAGES (Hardcover)

by Scott Mutter (Author)
Key Phrases: University of Chicago

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Mutter's striking images adorn the walls of homes and businesses nationwide. This collection of photomontages is presented in a generously-sized edition that will thrill aficionados and entice those unacquainted with his work. "Mutter's work is extraordinary and categorically unique."--Saul Bass. 35 duotones. (University Of Illinois Press)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press (October 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252019350
• ISBN-13: 978-0252019357
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #643,369 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most famous contemporary photographers, September 18, 2002

By	Sarah M. Ransom "sarahmr929" (Columbia, MO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real art and much more than mere camera trickery, December 17, 2001

By	Richard Cody (Oakland, The Golden State) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surrational Reaction, April 21, 1999

By A Customer

I personally think this book is clever and extreamly creative as a collection of work that re-looks at a form of photography that almost died. The fact that these are photograph montages and done with an amazing amount of skill blows me away.