Dada collage

Edy Wong, The Old and The New, 12/12/09, magazine clippings and sketch paper, 8.5" x 11", FCS art classroom

My collage is based on the nonsensical style of the Dada Movement. The topic I wanted to depict with this piece is "nostalgia." I juxtaposed an old fashioned East Hampton salt-box house (bottom) with the skyscrapers of the city (left side) . I did this to show to contrast of modern technology and lifestyle with the more simpler, anquidated style of living. I have always been fond of the elegance and classicality of old-fashioned houses and I find antiques very interesting. I feel like we should be aware of our fast-paced progress of our advancement inindustry and technology. Although computers and cars have been a significant part of my life (I cannot imagine surviving without the internet or a car), sometimes I actually want to move to a quaint little town and live in a cozy little English cottage somewhere over the rainbow. Also, I included flowers as a representation of nature; we as modern Americans don't always come to appreciate the importance and beauty of nature when we are surrounded by television and Wii games. I mean, the average person would rather sit home and go on Facebook rather than to take a walk on a nature trail, right? And in our daily lives we generate too much pollution and trash that comes from industry, convienience foods, plastic wraps, paper, etc...sometimes I just want to go back to 100% homemade and handmade.

I found this assignment somewhat challenging because of the unrealistic and nonsensical style I was required to incorporate in my collage. For me it was difficult to think outside-the-box because I have usually been asked to depict realistically with my artwork and I am not as familiar with conceptual art.