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Surreal Architectural Collages Convincingly Create Fantastical Dream Homes

Using scissors and glue, artist Matthias Jung creates surreal constructions that occupy vast, desolate landscapes. The German creative, whose work we've admired before, merges disparate architectural elements into cohesive pieces, combining the likes of opulent cathedrals with everyday, utilitarian buildings. By doing this, Jung completely reimagines how these places should look and act. In some of his collages, structures are ready to fly away, tethered only by a string. Other pieces use decorative elements that have been extracted from their original structures–like a single column or part of an arch–and form the foundation for these places.

At first glance, Jung's work might actually seem believable, which is thanks to his meticulous attention to detail. He's careful to match the scale and tone of his buildings with the surrounding environments. As a result, we have a momentary double take, telling ourselves that it's just some unusual locale we've never seen before.

Jung refers to his collages as “architectural short poems,” offering a fantastic and poetic perspective. They are simultaneously beautiful and befuddling, yet expressive–just like the literary works to which they refer.

Matthias Jung: Website

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Matthias Jung.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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