exploring

SURREALISM

what is surrealism?

Surrealism became a formal art movement, with a strong political, philosophical and social undercurrent that defined the methods used to elicit shock and curiosity among its following.

birth of surrealism

In 1924, Breton published The Surrealist Manifesto, which summarized answers to the question “what is Surrealism?”.

influences

Surrealism was influenced by other artists, art movements, and the artworks by artists like Hieronymus Bosch and Francisco Goya.

automatism

One of the defining features of the relentless mission of Surrealism to challenge people to peer into their subconscious is referred to as “automatism”.

frottage & grattage

Frottage is when the artist creates a textured surface and lightly rubs it. Grattage is when pieces of paint are removed.

freeform

The emphasis on the role of the unconscious in creating art, and the blatant anti-rationalism of the movement translated into freeform artistic expression on the canvas.

literature

 Les champs Magnetiques (The Magnetic Fields), which claimed association with “Surrealism”, was written by André Breton and Phillipe Soupault.

sculpture

Surrealism sculptures embodied the same principles as the other forms of Surrealism, only they introduced the idea of bringing the unconscious to life.

cinema

Surrealist cinema is relatively unique in its expression of the unconscious, or dream-like state.

our list of famous surrealist artists

Pablo Picasso  (1881 - 1973)

Salvador Dali  (1904 - 1989)

surrealism today

The influence of the thought-provoking and sometimes disturbing images that emerged from the Surrealist artists’ minds continues to capture the attention, prod the curiosity and stimulate the minds of audiences even today.