"Ars combinatoria". Borderline identity of photocollage

Abstract

Photocollage is an extremely hybrid aesthetic language, for it continually waves between different identities: photography and painting, high and low culture, manual nature and conceptual dimension, Art and Psychology. Indeed, it is an artistic medium, yet it shows an important psychological value, in fact several studies have proved its efficacy as art therapy method. In this article various psychological dynamics will be explained, regarding to practice and interpretation of photocollages made in clinic or educational domain or created spontaneously, or even made by artists. In particular, some phenomenons will be examined: photocollage acts as a symbolic self-portrait and stimulates autobiographical narration, encourages empathic involvement with figures in the pictures, develops memory and creative imagination and can produce healing effects.