Examining Surrealism: Seeing the World Through Open Eyes

Envision an environment where fantasies come true on paper and canvas, reality stretches, and logic bends. This is the essence of Surrealism, a literary and artistic movement that pushed the boundaries of convention and opened up a world of imagination by delving deeply into the unconscious mind.The Dada movement emerged in response to the atrocities of World War I and gave rise to surrealism.  Surrealism attempted to access the unconscious mind in order to unleash creativity and investigate the illogical, whereas Dada embraced absurdity and anti-art emotions.  The surrealists, who were influenced by Sigmund Freud's theories on dreams and the unconscious, thought that by reaching these deeper facets of the brain, they might subvert social standards and the limitations of reasoned intellect.

“Lullaby of Uncle Magritte” (2016), Michael Cheval

Surrealism: What is it?

A cultural and artistic movement that sought to transform the human experience, surrealism first appeared in the early 1920s. By investigating the realm of dreams, the unconscious, and the irrational, it aimed to liberate people from the limitations of reason and social expectations.

Surrealism was a philosophy as well as an art movement, and it was first used by French author André Breton in his 1924 publication of the Surrealist Manifesto. It was described by Breton as "pure psychic automatism" and he saw it as a way to bring the conscious and unconscious parts of experience together.

“Minotaure Aveugle Guide Par une Fillette, I” (1934). Etching from Picasso’s Vollard Suite.

Introduction to Surrealism

The rebellious, anti-war movement known as Dadaism, which flourished on chaos and absurdity in reaction to the atrocities of World War I, gave rise to surrealism. Dada disapproved of aesthetics and reason, but Surrealism aimed to access the unconscious in order to discover more profound truths.

Inspired by Sigmund Freud's beliefs regarding dreams and the subconscious, surrealists held that creativity might be unleashed and a more authentic reality—surreality—could be revealed by gaining access to the hidden parts of the mind.

Legendary Surrealist Painters

Some of the most renowned and thought-provoking artists in contemporary history sprung from surrealism:

surreal painting by vladimir kush

Surrealist painter Vladimir Kush, who was born in Russia, is most recognized for his inventive, dreamy works that use metaphor to combine imagination and reality.  Though Kush's work is frequently likened to Salvador Dalí's, it has a decidedly lyrical and upbeat tone and frequently focuses on nature, transformation, and the harmony of opposites.

forest surreal painting by kevin sloan

The bizarre painting Forest Descanso (2021) by Kevin Sloan is a prime example of his unique "allegorical realism," which combines symbolic storytelling with painstaking naturalism.  Sloan depicts a serene forest scene with rich foliage and exquisite flowers surrounding a hollowed log that doubles as a perch for two birds in this acrylic on canvas painting.  The location invites spectators into a place of contemplation with its calm, even religious ambiance.

surreal painting by jim warren

Renowned American artist Jim Warren is well-known for his enthralling surrealist paintings that skillfully combine aspects of nature, fantasy, and the human condition.  His paintings frequently depict surreal landscapes and fantastical situations, enticing spectators into realms where fantasy and reality coexist.

Strategies and Symbols

Several strategies were used by surrealists to get beyond logical reasoning:

Writing or sketching without conscious control and allowing the subconscious to direct the hand is known as automatism.

Putting disparate items together to produce odd, thought-provoking pairings is known as juxtaposition.

Using symbols and scenes from dreams to convey wants, fears, and visions is known as dream imagery.

Dislocation is the process of taking anything out of its natural environment or changing its scale and purpose.

Common symbols that provide access to examining inner realities include eyes, mirrors, clocks, birds, and labyrinths.

“Le Lezard aux Plumes d’Or II” (1971, M.800), Joan Miró

Beyond the Artistic Surrealist

Artistic surrealism went beyond the canvas. It had an effect on:

Literature: Poems who defied linear meaning were produced by authors such as Paul Eluard and Louis Aragon using dream logic and automatic writing.

Film: Surrealist films, like Dalí and Luis Buñuel's Un Chien Andalou (1929), defied conventions in storytelling by incorporating eerie and surreal scenes.

Fashion and Design: Surrealist clothes and interior design were made possible by the collaboration of painters like Dalí and designers like Elsa Schiaparelli.

“Filiae Herodiadis Saltatio” (The Dance of Herodias’ Daughter, 1964), Salvador Dalí

Surrealism in the Present

Surrealism still serves as an inspiration to modern writers, filmmakers, and artists. Surrealism seems more relevant than ever in the era of digital media, where artificial intelligence and virtual realities are blurring the lines between reality and fiction. It serves as a reminder to accept the irrational, have faith in our subconscious, and discover significance in the unknown.

“Umbrella Man” (2016), Peter Max

Conclusions

Surrealism is a way of thinking rather than only involving surrealistic visuals or dreamy aesthetics. It is the conviction that creation originates internally, that reality is malleable, and that by delving deeply into the unconscious, we might discover truths that are beyond the realm of reason.

The surrealists were the first to explore that area using paint, poetry, and an unafraid curiosity about the unknown, so keep that in mind the next time your dreams begin to conflate with your conscious ideas.

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