Clippings, Cuttings And Clarity

The German Graphic Designer Whose Nephew Inspired A New Way Of Creating

Abstract and eye-catching yet subtle, graphic designer, Isabel Reitemeyer, collages are created with cut outs from books and magazines. The minimalist collections are clear and simple yet leave room for the audience to project their own meanings onto the series.

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The theme of ‘clarity’, that less is more, is seen in many formats from the naked human form to sharp divides between identical creatures. Isabel’s work is poetic, it is sensual in it’s glimpses of humanity: it is the art equivalent of the strategic slip of a shoulder – an enticing encouragement for the beholder to delve further.

We spoke to Isabel, who lives and works in Berlin, about why she loves collages and the absence of colour in her work.

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The Plus: How did you start creating collages?
Isabel Reitemeyer:
2007, when my brother had his first son. I started to work with the photos of this little person and put his face in new situations (on a fish market or in a gambling casino). That was how I started.

TP: What is it about collages that you love?
IR:
I like it because there is always a photo or a part of it I can work with. That´s what I find very exciting and inspiring … and also that I have various possibilities to work on it and to create new spaces.
If I´m working on canvas or if I am drawing it´s different because I have to fill a blanc sheet or canvas which is often the first big hurdle to overcome. 

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TP: Talk us through the creative process for making a collage?
IR:
At first I go hunting for good stuff (magazines, books etc.) and if I have made a good prey I start to flip through the pages of the book or magazine and if something in it talks to me I cut it out immediately.
Currently I like to work with parts of human bodies or faces. After cutting out I start to combine these scraps with each other. This process can take a few seconds, minutes or months … but in the end I often only use one piece to complete my artwork. 

TP: Talk us through the choice to keep your collages black and white?
IR:
Here I also love the clearness to work. Nothing distracts, it´s on the point. That´s what I like.

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