Web-Symbolic/Surreal

Man Ray

What could look like a simple still life photograph of an iron seems to be no challenge for Man Ray to transform. A lot of his work shows him playing with conventions and creating his own reality. I think his photography should be looked at more as a form of art in which he uses to create surprising juxtapositions and emphasize ideas that he could not paint or draw. Photography is seen to capture to the truth yet when you look at Man Ray’s work he seems to change an everyday object into something surreal. Taking the truth out of an object and inserting a whole new concept.

'Gift' 1921

I wanted to specifically look at the one photograph Man Ray took titles ‘Cadeau’ meaning gift. I love the concept he has created and how, first look this iron may look like any other you have seen, second look it becomes a dangerous object.

An iron can be seen to represent female domestic work. The fact that it is already dangerous because of the heat it produces to do its purpose is something we initially forget about when looking at it.

Now when Man Ray uses his experimental techniques and adds nails to the iron he transforms it, becoming a threatening object. Something no longer domestic but violent, this idea of hot metal and danger becomes provocative and an intense desire. He puts power into a woman’s hand.

I find this kind of vision he was able to build with still life much more stimulating and interesting to play with, taking an objects purpose and creating a new one.

Links
Man Ray photographs
Tate Modern