Isolation Collage

For this student project, we were initially tasked with creating a collage, but only after gathering materials did we learn it would be based on a specific emotion. At the time, I was navigating a difficult period: my roommate had just moved out, my boyfriend (now fiancé) had just graduated, and I found myself feeling isolated, surrounded by a new group of peers I hadn’t yet connected with. The collage became a personal exploration of loneliness. Using photographs from art books in the university library, I digitally warped and edited the images, incorporating a scanned natural texture as required. One of the biggest challenges was selecting imagery that captured the emotion I wanted to convey meaningfully and cohesively. This project pushed me to experiment with texture in design. I also learned that even something as simple as adding noise to an image can help soften harsh edges and bring cohesion to a piece. Interestingly, at the end of the project, I discovered that one image I used was from a well-known horror film. While reusing recognizable imagery is generally avoided, it raised a compelling question about interpretation: What happens when the audience recognizes something the artist does not? It was a reminder of how interpretation can shift based on context and knowledge.