What do you get when you mix Munch's The Scream, Home Alone and T-shirts? The Love of the Week has the answer
Nineties nostalgia continues to rule on AnOther Loves, with its focus moving away from swan-bothering heartthrobs onto everyone’s favourite burglar busting kid, Macaulay Culkin. But this is no traditional homage – instead, this week’s Most Loved post inserts the terror-struck face of one of the world’s most famous child stars into a world famous artwork – Munch’s The Scream – and then plastered the whole surreal montage onto a T-shirt. Totally amazing. And ultimately vote winning for its Lover, photographer Raven Smith.
Photomontage first emerged in the mid-Victorian era, popularised by the work of Oscar Rejlander, and his extraordinary combination print The Two Ways of Life. The process was refined and popularised in the early 20th century, particularly as part of the Dada and Surrealist movements, crafted into iconic pieces by the likes of Hannah Höch, Kurt Schwitters and Salvador Dalí. Today, Photoshop and the internet have conspired to move the art into the public domain, where montages can can be created by anyone with a computer, and where their impact can be instant and vast in its reach. In Photo Op, political artists kennardphillipps created one of the defining images of the Iraq conflict by photoshopping a press shot of a maniacally grinning Tony Blair apparently taking a selfie in front of a blazing oil field.
"Political artists kennardphillipps created one of the defining images of the Iraq conflict by photoshopping a press shot of a maniacally grinning Tony Blair apparently taking a selfie in front of a blazing oil field"
Edvaulay Munchkin is less political satire than slightly unhinged genius: just the right kind of thing for an October Friday. So, to celebrate its victory, here we talk to Smith about wrestling singlets as elevated homewear, the place of Home Alone II in 21st century pop culture and his fight for the right to wear Crocs.
Why did you love this T-shirt?
It reminds me of Home Alone, it reminds me of Macaulay Culkin, it reminds me of T-shirts.
Where would you wear it and what with?
I’d wear it to work with a spritz of Lynx Africa.
Which would you prefer – a day at a Munch exhibition or a night watching the full Home Alone series?
The story arc for the crazy homeless lady in Central Park in Home Alone 2 trumps everything that has ever happened in the history of culture.
What is your favourite Macaulay Culkin moment?
It’s a toss up between divorcing his parents and the rap with Michael Jackson in Black or White.
When was the last time you made this face?
When I got outbid on eBay this morning. I was trying to buy a wrestling singlet. I’ve decided wresting singlets are the most casually elevated form of homewear. Luxury jersey can bugger off.
Who are you going as for Halloween?
I’m going to a Celebrity Divorces themed party so I’ll probably go as Macaulay. I wanted to go as Monica Lewinsky with a strategically-placed cigar but Hilary didn’t divorce Bill.
What was the last thing you bought?
Nothing recently, but I can’t shake the feeling that if anyone’s going to make Crocs happen, it’s me. [Ed. note: Raven Smith was the forerunner of the Pool Slides trend. We have every confidence he can make Crocs work.]
Text by Tish Wrigley
