Décollage is a technique in visual arts where layers of materials, often paper, are glued together and then selectively torn or peeled away to reveal underlying layers. The term “décollage” is derived from the French word meaning “to take off” or “to unstick.”
In contrast to collage, where materials are added to create an image, décollage involves a subtractive process, where layers are removed to expose different colors, textures, or images beneath. Artists may use various tools such as knives, sandpaper, or even their fingers to peel away sections of the glued layers, creating dynamic and often unpredictable compositions.
Décollage became particularly popular in the mid-20th century as part of the broader movement of Nouveau Réalisme, which emerged in France in the 1960s. Artists like Mimmo Rotella and Wolf Vostell are well-known for their work with décollage, which they used to explore themes such as consumerism, urban decay, and the manipulation of mass media imagery.
The technique offers artists a unique way to engage with materials, texture, and the element of chance, resulting in artworks that are visually rich and conceptually layered. It blurs the boundaries between creation and destruction, challenging traditional notions of artistic process and authorship.
