Kuvatkuva

Kuvatkuva is a term in Finnish media discourse describing a visual technique or concept in which images are layered or embedded to create commentary on representation, memory, or media.

The word is a compound of kuva (image) and kuvat (images), and has been used in Finnish art writing since the early 2000s to denote a "picture of pictures" or a nested image.

Techniques include digital blending, overlays, montage, and recursive framing; practitioners may combine documentary material with fictional elements, using transparency and cropping to create a sense of ambiguity.

Contexts: found in contemporary art installations, online galleries, and experimental journalism, kuvatkuva is used to express layered meaning, media critique, and the instability of visual truth.

Reception: the practice raises questions about authenticity and manipulation; supporters argue it expands narrative possibilities, while critics warn of misleading audiences. Ethical guidelines emphasize clear labeling when images are composite.

See also: photomontage, montage, collage, meta-photography.